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Sat 20th Dec, FINAL
[1] Nicol David
(Mas) 3-2 [3] Raneem El Welily (Egy)
5/11, 11/8, 7/11, 14/12, 11/5 (66m)
Saving four match
balls at 6-10 in the fourth, Nicol David
is champion of the world for the EIGHTH time ...
WATCH IN FULL
When Nicol-Awy officially gets the status of
Legend
 What
a week, what a match, what a final!!!!!! A sublime match between two
“Gentlewomen of the game”.
I rarely saw such an atmosphere, such a crowd. And they got 1 point
away from their dream coming true.
Rewind.
 Raneem,
literally carried onto court by the adoring chanting of the kids of
Wadi Degla, flew in the first game, leading 7/2, 9/3 and taking the
first game on a backhand low drive, 11/5.
One unforced error for Nicol, 0 for
Raneem.
And the momentum just went on in the second game. Nicol was not doing
anything particularly wrong, Raneem was just too good at the mixing
of shots.
Again, 6/3, 7/4. Annnnnd Nicol realised the court was getting
colder. And that if Raneem’s shots were going in beautifully, hers
could too!
 And
Nicol-Awy came on court.
Shortening the rallies, she found shots - shot after shot, winner after winner.
Raneem bless her was just taken on the back foot, too far back to
pick up those backhand feathery volleys and trickle boasts. Just
couldn’t read them…
From 4/7, Nicol-Awy scored five points, then another two to take the
game 11/8 in front of a stunned crowd. Zero unforced errors for Nicol,
3 for Raneem.
 The
third was a pure beauty. Two Monsters of Squash on there, two Wills,
two Styles, and One amazing squash match. 3/1 for Nicol; 3/3, 7/4
for Raneem, 7/8.
But it’s Nicol who mentally cracks down, a tin, an out of court,
and a mishit to allow the Crowd to believe… 11/7 Raneem. One unforced
error for Raneem, Two for Nicol.
 The
Fourth will stay in my mind as one of the most dramatic games ever.
Making
a long story short, Raneem was the Queen of Egypt, dominating all
the rallies, and her Flair was surreal. 6/2. Nicol digs in 6/6.
Four points in a row for Egypt, MATCH BALL 10/6!!!!
 I cannot start to describe the vibes in the crowd, the cloud of love
that was floating all around.
Just one point. Just one point. Nicol
just strings the points back - including a SUBLIME nick at 8/10 and three tins in four points
from Raneem.
10/10.
Queen
Nicol is showing why she got seven titles. She will take the game,
mixing heavy hitting with sublime short game. Incredible. Just
sublime display of talent, and mental strength. One tin Nicol.
Seven Raneem.
After Nicol managed to transformed her third game ball for 14/12, Raneem was
broken.
 As she came back on court, for the first time ever, I saw her look
at her mum just one rank behind me.
She was not the Squash Champion
anymore. In her eyes, I saw the little girl hurting.
It
didn’t prevent her from fighting tooth and nail in the fifth mind,
but Nicol was now fully confident that this title was hers.
 From
3/3, Raneem only could score two points.
And as she won
her 8th title, Nicol sobbed, and sobbed, and sobbed. Like she did in
Hong Kong, 8 years ago, for her first one.
The Egyptian Dream Crashed. The Nicol Legend was sealed forever.
Mabrook Nicol-Awy.
WATCH
THE FULL VIDEO OF THE FINAL |
THE LAST DAY
EN BREFS
Photo Galleries
"I told myself I wanted to win the last point. I just kept repeating
that: it’s not over until it's over...
Raneem was just playing too well, I just had to find something in
me I didn't know I had… I just wouldn’t let go, and just kept fighting…
It was such a pleasure to play in Egypt in front of such an amazing
crowd.
All this wouldn’t have happened without the involvement of
Wadi Degla in receiving the Championships, over such a short period
of time, and without the hard work of Karim and Engy and all the
team.
It’s been a real honour for me to play here today. And I want to
share this moment with my Team. First Liz, who has been working with
me for 12 years now, and never gave up on me. So I didn’t want to
give up on her. And everybody, Ronald, Franck, Malaysian Sport
Council, who have been supporting me my whole career.
This is also a special moment as it’s my parents anniversary today,
and I think they still have their heart still racing….
I also want to say to Raneem that she was a real contender today,
that I’m happy to keep watching out of her, that she is such a
humble, honest and graceful champion, a true role model of every kid
not only here in Wadi Degla, but for all kids in Egypt.
All the WSA girls would like to thank everybody who has made this
event possible and an amazing moment for us, we have had such a
welcome, you made our week an unforgettable moment, and we hope we
gave you back a great show…
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