Nicol eyes 9th CIMB KL Open title

World number one Datuk Nicol David is all geared up to clinch her ninth CIMB Kuala Lumpur Open Squash championships title when the tournament gets underway from March 26 to 31.

In a statement issued by the Squash Rackets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) Wednesday, Nicol who is also the defending champion, was among 15 top players in the world listed for the championships that will be held at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil and Berjaya Times Square.

Among the notable names on the list was world number two Raneem El Weleily from Egypt who has beaten Nicol in two of their three meetings, recently.

Malaysia will also be banking on world number six Low Wee Wern who had shown a marked improvement last year and Delia Arnold who received a wild card ticket.

In the men's category, Malaysia has lined up the experienced Ong Beng Hee (no 22), Muhd Asyraf Azan who received a wild card ticket and Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan who plays in the qualifying round.

The men's category will feature four of the top 10 players in the world with Mohamed El Shorbagy from Egypt (no 5) instilled as the top seed, fellow countrymen Karim Darwish (no 6), defending champion Omar Mosaad (no 9) and Borja Golan from Spain (no 10).

The qualifying and preliminary rounds will be held in Bukit Jalil while the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will take place at Berjaya Times Squares.

Meanwhile, SRAM President Datuk Syed Mustaffa Syed Ali the championships which offers RM310,000 as prize money would be sponsored by CIMB Group, Berjaya Times Square Berhad, Pizza Hut Restaurant Sdn Bhd and Astro Arena.