CAIRO: World number one Nicol David won her fifth World Open title on Wednesday, defeating Egyptian Omneya Abdel Kawy in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh. The Malaysian squash giant equaled the most titles won with Australian Sarah Fitz-Gerald. “My focus was strong throughout the tournament. I really wanted this. I didn't want to let it slip,” the 27-year-old Penangite was quoted as saying on the official tournament's website. At the final held in the glass court, Nicol took just 30 minutes to ease past Omneya 11-5, 11-8 and 11-6 in their first meeting at a world open final. “It's amazing that I can do something that Sarah has done, because she's such a great player. “She's helped me so much and, with my coach Liz (Irving), she's been instrumental in what I have done,” said Nicol, adding that Sarah was now her important sparring partner. This year, Nicol, who became the world number one in August 2006, won all her six Women's International Squash Players Association (Wispa) titles. Starting in March this year, Nicol won the Chennai Open (March 7) and Kuala Lumpur Open (March 20) and continued with her winning streak at the Cayman Islands Open on April 17. After a two-month break, she came back strongly for back-to-back wins at the Malaysian Open (July 24), Singapore Masters (July 31) and the Hong Kong Open (Aug 29). BM
