Women's squash team dominates with Malaysia's 3rd gold medal

The Malaysian women's squash team dominated the squash event at the 17th Asian Games after defeating India in the team's final today.

The team, led by world number one Datuk Nicol David, and comprising Low Wee Wern, Delia Arnold and Vanessa Raj, outclassed India, 2-0.

The victory enabled the Malaysian contingent to add the third gold medal at the Incheon Asian Games.

Malaysia's number three, Delia started the ball rolling after defeating Ananka Alankamony 11-9, 12-10 and 11-2 in a tense 43-minute match held at the Yeorumul Squash Courts.

"I felt a little pressure in the beginning. When I started to calm down in the middle of the second game, I began playing better and my shots were coming in," she said.

Women's individual gold medallist Nicol put on a superb performance against Dipika Rebecca Pallikal to clinch the winning point. She took just 29 minutes to beat Dipika in straight sets 11-7, 11-6 and 11-3.

"I am just so proud to actually be with this team that just won our second gold in the Asian Games. Back-to-back gold is not easy and our team really came through and worked together and I am just so proud.

"All of us had trained really hard for this game," noted Nicol. It was also her sixth gold medal since her participation in the Asian Games.

She has won six golds, and shares the honour with Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan (athletics), Ng Boon Bee (badminton) and Shalin Zulkifli (bowling).

Nicol won her first singles gold medal in Bangkok in 1998, but she failed to retain it in Busan in 2002 when she lost to Hong Kong's Rebecca Chiu in the final.

But she stormed back to win again in Doha in 2006 and in Guangzhou in 2010. Her other gold came in the team event, which was introduced for the first time in Guangzhou.