“I’m keen to go into my next tournament, ready to compete again.”

She’s the world #1 for a reason, and Nicol David tells us what she’s been up to since her defeat at the CIMB KL Open 2009.

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Since the KL Open, there have not been any tournaments. What have you been up to since then?

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been busy training back here in Amsterdam to build up for my upcoming tournaments in May that is the Cayman Islands Open and Texas Open back-to-back.

Your aim for 2009 was to win all tournaments you participated in. How did you feel when you lost the first tournament of the year and has that altered your aim in any way?

Of course after a great year in 2008, a loss in the K.L Open was not easy to take in but days like these will happen and I learned a lot from it. There’s no real alteration to my aim because my real aim for the year is to try and do just as good as 2008. Now I just have to keep working on it.

How have you better prepared yourself for upcoming tournaments?

My training currently in Amsterdam with Liz Irving and my physical trainer Karen Maree has been going just fine. I’ve also been working together with some players that have been training here too like Aisling Blake, Samantha Teran, Line Hansen and Annelize Naude (all SquashStars!) right here in Amsterdam. It’s been a real treat!

I’m sure you’ve experienced harsh remarks from the press previously for losses in major tournaments. However, your loss at the KL Open received a fair review. There were also numerous message boards online with massive support from Malaysian squash fans. What are your thoughts on this?

It was truly inspiring having the total support from the Malaysian public especially through a loss because after all the media coverage following my successes so far, the general public understands that I want to do my best always and it’s never easy. That support helped me through my loss, with my family and friends backing me too. Now I’m keen to go into my next tournament ready to compete again. Thanks to all Malaysians everywhere for your continuous support!

A lot of effort is being carried out worldwide towards the inclusion of Squash in the Olympics 2016. In your opinion, what are the odds of Squash making the cut this time around?

There has been a lot going on in the Squash World to get as much exposure possible around the world and this year is crucial for us. Our previous attempts to get into the Olympics have been stepping stones to reach where we are right now. Four years ago, I was involved in the last IOC meeting in Singapore with the World Squash Federation for the Bid of the 2012 Olympic city and new sport inclusion and squash just missed out then. After that meeting, more IOC members got to know our game better and we are hoping that there may be a following for this year’s bid in Copenhagen. Still keeping my fingers crossed!

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