KUALA LUMPUR – Good news for Malaysian sports as former squash queen Datuk Nicol David has made it into the Top 10 of the World’s Greatest Athlete of All Time poll.
The former World No 1 is the only Malaysian and Asian among the 24 athletes to be nominated for this prestigious accolade in the World Games.
As one of the favourites to win this category, the eight-times world champion has managed to garner the most votes ─ at over 81,000 ─ proving that Nicol not only has fans in Malaysia but also around the world.
“I’m truly happy to make it to the top 10 so far and am very thankful for the support from my family, friends, all in Malaysia and the squash community, for their continuous votes. It will be a huge honour to be recognised as the Greatest Athlete of All Time by the World Games,” Nicol told The Vibes when contacted.
Nicol is considered by some to be the greatest woman squash player of all time as her notable achievements include the Asian Squash Championship, which she won a record nine times.
Nicol has also won the WSA Player of the Year on seven occasions, from 2005–2010 and in 2012. She was also voted as the greatest squash player of all time in the women’s category by fans in polls that were conducted by the Professional Squash Association (PSA) in 2018.
Meanwhile, Nicol’s former teammate, Ong Beng Hee, told The Vibes that this is a very proud moment for the squash fraternity and the country.
“I am extremely proud of Nicol. I would like to congratulate her on this achievement, and I hope she wins the G.O.A.T,” Beng Hee said.
At the same time, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president, Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, said that Nicol is the greatest athlete of all time and this is a well-deserving recognition.
“She is a complete athlete, achieving the greatest levels of success through self-discipline, strong commitment, talent, academic excellence and support from her family and the fraternity. Wishing her the very best in her future undertakings.
“Now, we need to help Nicol all the way to the top,” Norza said.
Fans can still vote for Nicol as their favourite athlete before February 1, 2021. ─ The Vibes, January 24, 2021.
