Nicol closes in on third World Games gold

PETALING JAYA: It was joy for world No. 1 Nicol David as she moved within striking distance of winning her third consecutive World Games gold medal after making the final at Cali, Colombia on Saturday.

However, it will not be national No. 2 Low Wee Wern whom she’ll face in the final after her fellow Penangite fell in the semi-finals to Holland’s Natalie Grinham.

Seven-time world champion Nicol, hoping to bounce back from a disappointing defeat in the British Open final to England’s Laura Massaro in May, was in her elements.

She staved off a strong challenge from towering Englishwoman Sarah-Jane Perry in the quarter-finals, winning 11-9, 11-9, 11-8, before stepping it up to pack off fourth seed Camille Serme of France 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 in the semi-finals.

And Nicol, who also took gold in 2005 and 2009, was clearly happy at the way she played.

“I’ve never played Sarah before but I heard about her recent good results and I knew that I was in for a tough game,” said Nicol, after beating Perry.

“I used the first game to assess the situation and thereafter I stayed steady to take the match.”

Nicol, who turns 30 later this month, will have another tough fight on her hands against world No. 9 Grinham – the same opponent she defeated in the 2009 final in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

The 35-year-old Grinham showed that she still has what it takes to compete at the highest level with an outstanding tactical game to oust Wee Wern 11-7, 2-11, 11-4, 11-4.

Despite the defeat, the 23-year-old Wee Wern, ranked sixth in the world was not too disheartened as she believes she is regaining her match fitness after a long break.

“Results wise it’s definitely a little disappointing for not making the final,” said Wee Wern, who defeated England’s Emma Beddoes in the quarter-finals.

“But what’s important is that I am back on the court and playing again which is good ahead of the National Championships (Aug 28-Sept 1) and the Malaysian Open (Sept 10-5). That’s the more important one.

“Furthermore, I have not played in months ... since the British Open and it’s tough playing two matches on the same day. And against Natalie it was never going to be easy.

“Now I’ll focus on the bronze medal match against Camille ... whom I last faced in the Hong Kong Open last year. Hopefully there’ll be no injuries this time,” added Wee Wern, who retired in the second round against Serme after suffering an hamstring injury.

In the men’s event, Malaysia’s challenge came to an end in the quarter-finals as national No. 1 Ong Beng Hee was no match for second seed Peter Barker of England, losing 4-11, 8-11, 4-11.

Barker, however, was beaten in the semi-finals by third seed Simon Rosner. The German won 11-8, 11-7, 11-8 and will take on top seed Gregory Gaultier in the final.