Nicol David

2.1. Birth and family

Nicol Ann David was born on August 26, 1983, in Penang, Malaysia. Her diverse family background includes her mother, Ann Marie David, a retired Malaysian Chinese school teacher of Hokkien and Hakka descent. Her father, Desmond David, is a Malaysian Indian engineer of Tamil descent, who was also a former state athlete and footballer. She has two sisters, Lianne and Cheryl, both of whom achieved success as squash players at the national level. David was raised as a Roman Catholic.

2.2. Childhood and education

David's passion for squash began early, as she started playing at the age of five and received formal coaching by eight. Despite her athletic talents, David also excelled academically. Mathematics was her best subject in school, and she harbored aspirations of becoming an engineer, following in her father's footsteps. She attended Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent Green Lane for her primary education and Convent Green Lane Secondary School in Green Lane, Penang, for her secondary studies. During her schooling, David achieved commendable academic results, scoring seven As in her Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) and seven As in her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), which is equivalent to the GCSE.

3.1. Junior career (Pre-professional)

Nicol David's squash journey began in 1992 when she secured a silver medal in the Under-14 category of the Penang State Junior Championship. That same year, she achieved her first national-level victory, winning silver in the Under-16 category at the Milo-Dunlop Sport National Junior Interstate Championship. In 1994, she was selected for the Penang state squash team for the Malaysian Games (SUKMA), where she contributed to Penang winning a gold medal in the team event, despite being unwell at the time. This year also marked her first two international titles: the Hong Kong Under-13 and the Scottish Junior Open Under-12.

David's talent was spotted by Ee Phoeh Hoon while training at the Bukit Dumbar Squash Centre, which led to her representing her home state of Penang alongside her sisters. She achieved a rare feat by winning all age categories in the British Junior Open. Her significant junior titles include the Scottish Junior Open Under-14 (1995, 1996) and Under-16 (1997), British Junior Open Under-14 (1996, 1997), Under-16 (1998), and Under-17/Under-19 Champion (1999). She also claimed the Australian Junior Open Under-15 and Under-17 titles in 1997. In 1998, she won the Asian Junior Squash Grand Circuit Final Under-19 and a gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games.

A pivotal moment in her junior career came in 1999 when David won the Women's World Junior Squash Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, defeating her compatriot Lynn Leong in the final. At just 15 years old, she became the youngest woman to achieve this title, notably overcoming three players ranked in the world's top 20 during the tournament. She successfully defended this title in Penang in 2001, defeating Omneya Abdel Kawy in just 17 minutes in the final. This made her the first female squash player in history to win the World Junior title twice, a distinction she held solely until Raneem El Weleily achieved her second World Junior Championship in 2007. Her coach during these formative years was Richard Glanfield. Additional junior accolades in 1999 included winning the German Junior Open (Under-19), the SEA Games (Senior and Team categories), and the Asian Junior Champion titles for both individual and team events.

3.2. Early professional career (2000-2004)

Nicol David officially joined the WISPA and turned professional in 2000. Just one month into her professional tour, she secured her first WISPA title in February 2000, defeating Salma Shabana in the final of the Savcor Finnish Open with a score of 9-1, 9-0, 9-5. Following this early success, Hotel Equatorial announced a two-year worldwide sponsorship deal, and she also gained sponsorship on the WISPA tour from Dunlop squash.

In 2001, after being sponsored by Dunlop Sport for much of her junior and early WISPA career, David signed a two-year agreement with Head rackets through local conglomerate Mulpha Sports. That same year, she won the individual event at the Asian Junior Squash Championships, defeating her compatriot Tricia Chuah, and contributed to the Malaysian team's victory in the team event.

The year 2002 saw David's first major multi-sport event medal as a professional. Partnering with Ong Beng Hee in the mixed doubles event at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, she won a silver medal for Malaysia, losing to Glen Wilson and Leilani Rorani in the final. Earlier that year, she claimed her second Kuala Lumpur Open title, defeating Ellen Petersen of Denmark. However, she was unable to defend her Asian Games gold medal from 1998, losing to Rebecca Chiu of Hong Kong in the final in Busan, South Korea.

In 2003, David experienced a challenging year, reaching only two finals, where she lost to the more experienced Cassie Jackman in the Malaysian Open and to Linda Elriani in the Monte Carlo Classic. She reached the semi-finals of the World Open in Hong Kong, again being beaten by Jackman. Her performance in other major WISPA events was less consistent, with early eliminations in the Carol Weymuller US Open, British Open, and Texas Open. She also lost in the second round of the Qatar Classic to Natalie Grinham.

David continued to seek her first title of the year in 2004. Her achievements included reaching the finals of both the Kuala Lumpur Open and the Malaysian Open. She showed significant progress in the final month of the year, reaching the final of the Shanghai WISPA WorldStars Championship and the semi-finals of the World Open, which propelled her two places up to number four in the January 2005 WISPA rankings.

3.3. Rise to world champion (2005-2006)

The period of 2005-2006 marked Nicol David's breakthrough into the elite ranks of professional squash, culminating in her becoming the world champion and securing the coveted world number one ranking. In 2005, David was defeated only twice, showcasing her rapidly increasing dominance. In July, the 21-year-old returned to Malaysia after winning a gold medal at the World Games in Germany. She then made history by becoming the first local player to win the Women's CIMB Malaysian Open Squash Championship title in the event's 31-year history.

In October, David solidified her success by becoming the first Malaysian to win a British Open title and the first Asian woman to claim the women's crown, defeating Australia's Natalie Grinham in straight games in 55 minutes. Within two months of her British Open and World Games victories, David clinched her first World Open title in Hong Kong. Her consistent outstanding performance led to her achieving the world number one ranking for the first time in January 2006. She was also recognized by her peers, being voted the WISPA Player of The Year for 2005.

At the age of 23, David became the World's number one female squash player in January 2006, marking a historic moment as the first Malaysian and first Asian woman to achieve this feat. She was the twelfth player to hold this position since the rankings were first established in April 1983. However, David's year began with setbacks, as she lost twice in February to Vanessa Atkinson in the finals of both the Apawamis Open and the Kuala Lumpur Open, which caused her world ranking to momentarily drop to number two.

Undeterred, David quickly recovered, winning six straight tour titles and reclaiming the World number one spot by August 2006. On November 25, 2006, she successfully defended her World Open title at the Ulster Hall in Belfast, defeating Natalie Grinham in a final described as "one of the great finals of the Women's World Open." This made her the first Malaysian athlete to win a world championship title for the second consecutive time and only the fourth person in history to retain the World Open Squash Championship. David's other titles in 2006 included the Qatar Airways Challenge Open, the Dunlop British Open Championship, the Hong Kong Open, the Penang Open, and the CIMB Malaysian Open. She ended the year topping the December WISPA ranking with a points average nearly double that of her nearest rival, Rachael Grinham, and was voted best female player of the year for the second time at the annual WISPA Awards.

3.4. Dominance and record-breaking achievements (2007-2014)

The years from 2007 to 2014 represented an unprecedented era of dominance for Nicol David in professional squash, during which she solidified her status as a legend of the sport. In the early months of 2007, David captured another six titles, continuing her impressive run. However, her winning streak was broken when she lost to Australia's Rachael Grinham in a gruelling five-set final lasting 87 minutes at the British Open. A month later, she faced another rare setback, failing to defend her World Open title after an unexpected second-round loss to Shelley Kitchen in 69 minutes, marking the first time since April 2004 that David did not qualify for a tournament's quarter-finals. Despite these losses, in December, David won the inaugural Asian Sportswoman of the Year award, triumphing over more than 100 competitors from 25 sporting bodies.

The year 2008 was a landmark for David, as she remained unbeaten, securing ten tour titles. She retained her Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Open title for the third successive year in November, extending her unbeaten Tour record to 53 matches since October 2007. David celebrated her second full calendar year as world number one in the December Women's World Squash Rankings, extending her reign at the top to 30 straight months. Her WISPA title successes in 2008 included the Apawamis Open in New York, the KL Open, the British Open, Seoul Open in South Korea, the Malaysian Open, the Singapore Masters, Dutch Open, World Open, Qatar Classic, and the Hong Kong Open. Off the tour, she secured her sixth successive biennial Asian Championship crown, having first won it at just 14 years old in July 1998, and also led Malaysia to a bronze medal in the Women's World Team Championship in Cairo.

In 2009, David started her 30th successive month as the world's number one female player. Her remarkable 17-month, 56-match winning streak was finally broken in March when she lost to Natalie Grainger in the final of the Kuala Lumpur Open. However, David quickly rebounded, capturing the inaugural Cayman Islands Open by avenging her loss to Grainger. She then won her second title of the year at the Texas Open, again defeating Grainger.

Twenty-one days later, she secured her second Seoul City Open crown by defeating Jenny Duncalf in four sets. In July, she successfully defended her World Games women's singles title, beating archrival Natalie Grinham. In August, David claimed her fifth consecutive Malaysian Open title, becoming the first player to achieve this feat since its inception in 1975. She continued her dominance by winning her third consecutive Singapore Masters. By September, she marked her 41st month as world number one, surpassing her mentor Sarah Fitz-Gerald for the third longest reign at the top of the women's rankings. While she lost to Madeline Perry in the British Open quarter-final, she recovered to win her fourth World Open Championship title against Natalie Grinham, equalling the record held by Sarah Fitz-Gerald and Susan Devoy. The year concluded with losses to Jenny Duncalf in the semi-finals of both the Qatar Classic and the US Open.

David began 2010 ranked number one for the 42nd consecutive month. She won her first tournament of the year, the Chennai Open, avenging her previous losses to Jenny Duncalf. Thirteen days later, she secured her sixth Kuala Lumpur Open title, defeating Omneya Abdel Kawy. David continued her winning form, claiming five more tour titles, including the prestigious World Open on September 22. This fifth World Open win equalled Sarah Fitz-Gerald's record for the most World Open titles. In October, she won the gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, defeating Jenny Duncalf without dropping a single game throughout the tournament, mirroring her performance at the 2010 World Open. She also won the Torneo International Bicentenario Mexico and her fourth Qatar Classic title, extending her unbeaten record to 50 WISPA Tour titles and completing a remarkable 12 WISPA titles in 2010. David secured her third Asian Games singles gold medal and led the Malaysian women's team to their first Asian Games team gold in Guangzhou, China.

In February 2011, after 58 months at the top of the WISPA rankings, David's 14-month unbeaten run concluded with a loss to Laura Massaro at the Cleveland Classic in the United States. Despite this, she continued to accumulate titles. In March, she won her seventh Kuala Lumpur Open title. She followed this with her third Cayman Islands Open, her seventh Malaysian Open, and her first Australian Open. By the end of the year, she had secured her fifth Qatar Classic, her sixth World Open (making it her 6th World Open title), and her sixth Hong Kong Open.

David's dominance continued into 2012. She started the year by winning her first World Series Finals, followed by her first Cleveland Classic title. She then secured her eighth Kuala Lumpur Open and her fourth British Open title. Additional wins included her second Australian Open, her first US Open, her seventh Hong Kong Open, and her seventh World Open title, further cementing her legendary status.

In 2013, David claimed her second World Series Finals title. She also won her eighth Malaysian Open, her second Carol Weymuller Open, and her second US Open, a title she would successfully defend. She added the China Open and her eighth Hong Kong Open to her collection.

2014 saw David continue to break records. She won the Tournament of Champions, her second Cleveland Classic, and her fifth British Open title. She also secured her ninth Hong Kong Open and her third consecutive US Open title, defeating Nour El Sherbini. She then won the Macau Open and, crucially, her eighth World Open title, defeating Raneem El Weleily.

3.5. Later career and retirement (2015-2019)

The later stages of Nicol David's career saw a shift, though her presence remained significant. In September 2015, after an unparalleled reign of 108 consecutive months, she ceded her world number one ranking to Raneem El Weleily. Despite this, David continued to demonstrate her enduring quality. In July 2016, she set another record, reaching her 151st successive month in the top 10, surpassing Peter Nicol's long-standing record for both men's and women's categories.

In 2015, she added her third Cleveland Classic title and her tenth Hong Kong Open title to her extensive list of wins. She also reached the final of the Windy City Open, where she was defeated by Raneem El Weleily. In 2017, she won the Ciudad de Floridablanca tournament but lost in the final of the Oracle Netsuite Open to Sarah Jane Perry.

In February 2019, Nicol David publicly announced her decision to retire from professional squash at the end of the 2018/2019 PSA season in June, concluding an illustrious career that had profoundly impacted the sport.

3.6. Notable rivalries

Throughout her illustrious career, Nicol David engaged in several significant rivalries that pushed her to excel and captivated squash fans worldwide. Her most frequent opponent on tour was Natalie Grinham. As of March 2012, they had met 36 times, with David holding a dominant 29-7 lead in their overall head-to-head series. Sixteen of their matches were in tournament finals, including two at the prestigious World Open. The final of the 2006 Women's World Open Squash Championship between David and Grinham is often cited as "one of the great finals of the Women's World Open," showcasing the high level of competition between them. Their longest match occurred at the 2007 CIMB Kuala Lumpur Open, a five-set marathon lasting 102 minutes, which David ultimately won. Their rivalry also featured a significant World Open final in 2009, where David defeated Grinham to claim her fourth world title.

Other notable rivals who frequently challenged David included:

• Rachael Grinham: Natalie's older sister, a formidable opponent in many finals, including British Opens.
• Vanessa Atkinson: A key competitor in David's early professional years, including the finals where David briefly lost her World No. 1 ranking.
• Jenny Duncalf: A consistent opponent, particularly in major finals during David's peak dominance.
• Laura Massaro: Who eventually broke David's 14-month unbeaten streak and was a strong contender in many later finals.
• Raneem El Weleily: Who eventually ended David's 108-month reign as World No. 1 and became a prominent rival in David's later career.
• Natalie Grainger: An American player who ended David's 17-month, 56-match winning run in 2009.
• Omneya Abdel Kawy: An Egyptian player whom David faced in several major finals, including World Opens.

These rivalries contributed significantly to the intensity and excitement of women's squash during David's era, pushing her to consistently perform at her highest level.

4.1. World and major tour titles

Nicol David holds the record for the most World Open titles won by a woman, with eight victories in:

• 2005 (Hong Kong)
• 2006 (Belfast)
• 2008 (Manchester)
• 2009 (Amsterdam)
• 2010 (Sharm El Sheikh)
• 2011 (Rotterdam)
• 2012 (Grand Cayman)
• 2014 (Cairo)

She also secured five British Open titles in:

• 2005
• 2006
• 2008
• 2012
• 2014

In total, David claimed 81 WISPA (Women's International Squash Players Association) tour titles, reaching 101 finals. Her consistent performance allowed her to maintain the world number one ranking for an unprecedented 108 consecutive months. She also holds the record for 151 successive months in the top 10, surpassing Peter Nicol's previous record. David achieved a remarkable 13-month, 51-match winning streak from March 2006 to April 2007.

Other significant WISPA tour titles include:

• Hong Kong Open: 10 titles (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
• Qatar Classic: 5 titles (2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011)
• Malaysian Open: 8 titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)
• US Open: 3 titles (2012, 2013, 2014)
• World Series Finals: 2 titles (2011, 2012)
• Cayman Islands Open: 3 titles (2009, 2010, 2011)
• Australian Open: 2 titles (2011, 2012)
• Carol Weymuller Open: 2 titles (2005, 2013)
• Cleveland Classic: 3 titles (2012, 2014, 2015)
• Singapore Masters: 4 titles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
• Kuala Lumpur Open: 8 titles (2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012)

She was voted the WSA Player of the Year on seven occasions: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. In a 2018 poll conducted by the Professional Squash Association, David was voted by fans as the greatest squash player of all time in the women's category.

4.2. International multi-sport events

Nicol David has achieved significant success representing Malaysia in various international multi-sport events:

• World Games
  • Gold Medal (Singles): 2005 (Duisburg), 2009 (Kaohsiung), 2013 (Cali)
  • Bronze Medal (Singles): 2017 (Wrocław)
  • Commonwealth Games
    • Gold Medal (Singles): 2010 (Delhi), 2014 (Glasgow)
    • Silver Medal (Mixed Doubles): 2002 (Manchester, with Ong Beng Hee)
    • Bronze Medal (Mixed Doubles): 2010 (Delhi)
    • Asian Games
      • Gold Medal (Singles): 1998 (Bangkok), 2006 (Doha), 2010 (Guangzhou), 2014 (Incheon), 2018 (Jakarta-Palembang)
      • Gold Medal (Team): 2010 (Guangzhou), 2014 (Incheon)
      • Silver Medal (Singles): 2002 (Busan)
      • Bronze Medal (Team): 2018 (Jakarta-Palembang)
      • Asian Championship
        • Singles Champion: 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2015 (record nine times)
        • Team Champion: 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2014

5.1. National and state honors

On June 7, 2008, David was honored with the Order of Merit (Darjah Bakti, DB) by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin). She was the first recipient of this prestigious award, which was established on June 26, 1975, and is limited to only ten individuals who have made significant contributions in the arts, sciences, and humanities.

On July 12, 2008, David was among 497 individuals honored in conjunction with the 70th birthday of the Penang State Governor, Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas. David received the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri award (DSPN), which carries the title Datuk, making her the youngest person ever to be conferred Datukship in Penang at that time. The former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, a fellow Penangite, once humorously remarked that David was "now more famous than me."

Other Malaysian federal honors include:

• Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) in 2000.
• Officer of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (KMN) in 2006.
• Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN), which carries the title Datuk, in 2017.

5.2. Honorary titles and special appointments

In July 2007, David received an honorary Master of Arts degree (honoris causa) from the University of Nottingham. Later, on September 23, 2019, she was conferred an Honorary Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Sports Science by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), recognizing her impact on the field.

Her broader public and international roles include:

• Being invited to carry the Olympic torch for Malaysia during the build-up to the Athens Olympics in 2004.
• Appointed as a UNDP National Goodwill Ambassador for Malaysia.
• Conferred an honorary officer position with the rank of Major in the Royal Malaysian Air Force Volunteer Reserve (PSSTUDM) on September 19, 2012.

6.1. Impact on squash and sports

Considered by many as the greatest women's squash player, Nicol David's dominance profoundly impacted the sport. Her consistent excellence and record-breaking achievements significantly raised the profile of squash globally and particularly in Malaysia. She became a powerful role model for aspiring athletes, demonstrating the potential for success through hard work, discipline, and perseverance. Her career contributed to the growth and popularization of squash, making it a more recognized and celebrated sport, especially in Asia. She also played a crucial role in inspiring a generation of Malaysian athletes and influencing the overall development and perception of sports within the country.

6.2. Role as a national and international figure

Nicol David transcends the boundaries of sports, serving as a significant national icon for Malaysia. Her success on the world stage instilled immense pride in her home country, embodying values of excellence, sportsmanship, and determination. As an international ambassador, she represented Malaysia with distinction, promoting not only the sport of squash but also the image of her nation globally. Her appointment as a UNDP National Goodwill Ambassador further highlighted her commitment to broader social causes and her role as a global citizen. In 2021, her enduring legacy was recognized on a global scale when she was crowned the World Games Greatest Athlete of All Time in a poll conducted by the World Games, receiving an overwhelming 318,943 votes and standing as the only Malaysian and Asian athlete among 24 international candidates. This recognition underscores her profound significance as a figure who inspired millions worldwide and elevated the status of both her sport and her country.

7.1. In popular culture

On June 7, 2021, ACE Pictures announced plans to produce a biopic in English based on David's life story. The film, titled 'I am Nicol David', aims to capture her journey and achievements, further cementing her place in popular culture and introducing her story to a wider audience.