She was the first to win 8 World Open crowns. Consider this – she was the world number one for 112 months, including a record 108 consecutive months, the longest reigning world no 1 squash player. I can still remember the energy at a Mamak stall when Nicol David won the 2005 World Open in Hong Kong for the first time. Nicol is considered by many to be the greatest female squash player of all time. For the past two decades I have noticed Malaysians living rare moments of true and pure unity whenever they watch their sport heroes win on the world stage. Kind of tunnel vision almost.”Īrrogant, selfish, and self-absorbed? Is there another way to be a champion, I asked myself, as I reached clumsily for yet another shot.ĭemonstrating the ultimate human excellence through sport is very important on multiple levels. You have to be selfish and self-absorbed. The tennis player Chris Evert was quoted saying “To be a tennis champion, you have to be inflexible. They will need above all a laser sharp focus on themselves and the perfection of their craft. It is true that to achieve stardom and be the best at what they do, individuals need to work hard and make many sacrifices. This advice implies that celebrities that we admire from afar can behave in ways that may disappoint us when we come closer to them. What made the occasion truly special was that in this, my first outing on a squash court, I was playing with the best squash player in the history of the game, Datuk (Dr) Nicol David.įlinging myself across the court in a haze of perspiration, I suddenly remembered the saying that you should never meet your heroes. Playing squash for the first time ever - at my age - was always going to be an interesting experience.

Dato nicol david