Nicol David inducted into WSF's Hall of Fame

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Category: squash

Published on Monday, 26 December 2011 21:35

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Malaysian squash star Nicol David reached a new milestone in her illustrious career when she was inducted into the World Squash Federation Hall of Fame - becoming the first active player in the history of the sport to be so honoured.

The induction was conducted by fellow countryman HRH Tunku Imran at a gala dinner in Rotterdam as part of theWorld Squash Awards programme at the 2011 World Open Championships. Imran, the WSF Patron and an IOC member, is himself a former Malaysian national squash champion.

Less than 24 hours later, David made further history by winning a record sixth Women’s World Open crown, crushing England’s world No2 Jenny Duncalf in one of the fasted world championship finals on record.

“It is great to be recognised while I am still competing – and to have my achievements compared with the top players in history,” said the 28-year-old from Penang. “It is truly fantastic and I am really honoured.”

After becoming the first ever double winner of the biennial world junior title in 2001, Nicol David went on begin an unbroken reign at the top of the world rankings in August 2006 – in March this year becoming the second longest-standing world number one of all-time.

Her Rotterdam triumph brought her WISPA World Tour title tally to 56 – just six short of the current record held by Sarah Fitz-Gerald, the legendary Australian whose five world title record David overtook.

Nicol has almost single-handedly put squash on the map in her home country – and earlier this year won a record eighth ‘Malaysian Sportswoman of the Year’ award. She won her first of three (quadrennial) Asian Games gold medals in 1998, aged just 15, and in April this year claimed her eighth successive (biennial) Asian Championship crown.

“I played my best match ever to win my sixth World title,” admitted David after her Rotterdam triumph. “But I would happily trade all my six world titles for Olympic Gold.”

Courtesy - World Squash Federation

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