Nicol David's surprise defeat denies berth at Woman's World Championship Final's
Malaysia's world number one Datuk Nicol David failed to make it to the finals of the 29th Penang-CIMB Women's World Championship when she was defeated by Egypt's Nour El Sherbini.
On Saturday's semi-finals at the Subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre (SPICE), the 30-year-old Nicol started off brilliantly with a 11-4 score, but unseeded Nour made it 2-1 when she took the second and third sets with 9-11 and 6-11.
Nicol fought back in the third set with 2-11 but Nour sealed victory in the last set with 11-9 in a gruelling match that lasted 61 minutes.
"I really forced my game in the fourth but the points come closely in the fifth, it was great to play in Penang, I always want to do my best in front of my home crowd but today was not my day.
"At the moment I need to analyze a bit more, there is nothing to stop... it’s just beginning of this year, I definitely learn a lot from this game," Nicol told reporters after her match.
Nicol was a seven-time champion - 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Nour will take on world number two Laura Massaro of England in the final.
"This time I'm really want to do my best, I didn't expect to win but I’m so happy to be through. I'm so sorry with the crowds who wanted to see Nicol in the final, I'm just playing and putting the sharp shot so I think, I'm lucky to be in the final.
"Hopefully I'll play better than today, and play awesome in the final match tomorrow with Laura," said Nour.
Meanwhile, Laura, the second seed advanced to the final after earning a hard fought 11-9, 11-7, 6-11 and 11-7 win against third seed, Raneem El Weleily of Egypt in the other semi-final encounter which lasted 48 minutes.
"Today was different compared to yesterday, Raneem gave me a tough match, I needed to keep focused, Physically I feel a little better today, when I lost in the third game, I told myself that I need to push on to win in the fourth," said
Laura.
~ awani
On Saturday's semi-finals at the Subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre (SPICE), the 30-year-old Nicol started off brilliantly with a 11-4 score, but unseeded Nour made it 2-1 when she took the second and third sets with 9-11 and 6-11.
Nicol fought back in the third set with 2-11 but Nour sealed victory in the last set with 11-9 in a gruelling match that lasted 61 minutes.
"I really forced my game in the fourth but the points come closely in the fifth, it was great to play in Penang, I always want to do my best in front of my home crowd but today was not my day.
"At the moment I need to analyze a bit more, there is nothing to stop... it’s just beginning of this year, I definitely learn a lot from this game," Nicol told reporters after her match.
Nicol was a seven-time champion - 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Nour will take on world number two Laura Massaro of England in the final.
"This time I'm really want to do my best, I didn't expect to win but I’m so happy to be through. I'm so sorry with the crowds who wanted to see Nicol in the final, I'm just playing and putting the sharp shot so I think, I'm lucky to be in the final.
"Hopefully I'll play better than today, and play awesome in the final match tomorrow with Laura," said Nour.
Meanwhile, Laura, the second seed advanced to the final after earning a hard fought 11-9, 11-7, 6-11 and 11-7 win against third seed, Raneem El Weleily of Egypt in the other semi-final encounter which lasted 48 minutes.
"Today was different compared to yesterday, Raneem gave me a tough match, I needed to keep focused, Physically I feel a little better today, when I lost in the third game, I told myself that I need to push on to win in the fourth," said
Laura.
~ awani
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