Thousands Cheer Penang Star Nicol David Onto Opening World Success by Howard Harding March 18, 2014
- After a sparkling opening ceremony for the Penang CIMB Women's World
Squash Championship which attracted a huge crowd of over 3,000
spectators, Penang's world number one Nicol David provided the perfect
response with a straight games win in her opening match in the premier
Women's Squash Association (WSA) event at the SPICE Arena in Penang,
Malaysia
Despite a cold start
against Emma Beddoes, the world No22 from England, the seven-time world
champion didn't disappoint - stepping up her game to win 11-9, 11-5,
11-8.
"It's amazing to have
so many people here on the first round of the worlds," said defending
champion David (pictured above in action with Beddoes) with her eye on
a record eighth title. "It's really thanks to the crowd that I managed
to pull through."
Meanwhile the day's action was off to an explosive start with three seeds getting knocked out in the first round.
Hong Kong's 11th seed
Annie Au, 12th seed Kasey Brown of Australia and 14th seed Rachael
Grinham, also of Australia, were all early victims.
Au came into the
tournament high on confidence following a final appearance at the
Cleveland Classic last month, in which she defeated England's top three
players - Laura Massaro, Alison Waters and Jenny Duncalf.
But she was not
prepared for feisty Egyptian qualifier Heba El Torky who played the
match of her life, staying calm and focused for a 13-11, 4-11, 11-7,
11-8 win.
The 23-year-old Heba, who has already won two Tour titles this year, will be Nicol's next opponent.
"I'm extremely happy
... words can't even describe how I feel right now," said the
Alexandria-based El Torky. "I've never got through to the main draw of
the worlds in the past and now to be in the top 16 is really
unbelievable. It's definitely my best performance so far.
"The key was really
staying came and listening to the advice of my coach. I tend to hit
hard and without focus so staying calm really helped me through."
But while El Torky was
in control of her match, Guyana's Nicolette Fernandes had to resort to
her animal instincts to fight back from two games down before beating
Grinham, the only other former world champion in the fray who made her
debut in the event 20 years ago!
The world No.20 Fernandes dug deep before coming away with a 4-11, 6-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-7 win over the 37-year-old Grinham.
"The key to winning
was really me telling myself to be a lion on the court," said the
30-year-old Fernandes. "I was too passive at the start and I know I
needed to get on it more and be an animal, growl more in order to win.
"But I'm really just relieved to win because it's not easy to come back from two down."
Fernandes will go on
to meet France's world No6 Camille Serme in the second round. Serme
earned a hard-fought 11-6, 12-10, 11-7 win over 14-year-old qualifier
Habiba Mohamed Ahmed Alymohmed of Egypt.
The third upset saw
three-time world junior champion Nour El Sherbini - playing in only her
fourth tournament since a lengthy injury layoff - beat WSA president
Brown 12-10, 12-10, 8-11, 11-5.
There were also wins
for fourth seed Alison Waters of England, fifth seed Joelle King of New
Zealand and 13th seed Omneya Abdel Kawy of Egypt.
Earlier, the 3,000
spectators, probably one of the biggest for squash in recent times,
were treated to a grand opening ceremony with fireworks, 3D mapping
projection and vertical walkway.
The Malaysian crowd
will still have more to cheer with world No7 Low Wee Wern due to take
the courts against Australia's Donna Urquhart on Wednesday.
RESULTS: Penang CIMB Women's World Squash Championship, Penang, Malaysia
