David Disappointment Countered By World Games Enthusiasm

After the disappointment of narrowly missing out on persuading IOC members in Singapore to vote Squash into the Olympic Games in 2012, Asian champion Nicol David can now return to the stage where she performs best, in Germany this week.

The 21-year-old double world junior champion from Malaysia has her sights on her first senior world title in the World Games, the multi-sport event which is being staged in the city of Duisburg under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The 2005 World Games will feature 3,500 athletes from 100 nations, competing at 27 venues in 40 sports ranging from Sumo to Squash. The squash action will be staged in Mülheim an der Ruhr, near Duisburg, from 16-19 July.

"It was such a privilege to be part of the World Squash Federation team in Singapore lobbying for squash to be in the Olympics," said David.

"It was extraordinary witnessing big names in one place all at the same time - truly a great opportunity to meet everyone, especially those in the IOC committee and top sportsman such as Mohammed Ali, Sebastian Coe, Alexander Popov and many more.

"Then, after it looked as if we would get in - when two sports were knocked out of the games and squash then came out first in the initial vote - it was hugely disappointing that the members decided not to include any new sports in the Games after all," said the world number three from Penang.

"But, after being in Singapore, the enthusiasm for playing in the World Games is even greater now. I'm very excited to be participating in the event in Duisburg and am looking to do well there too!

"This will be my first time playing in this event so it should be exciting. Playing in a multi-sport games is always a thrilling experience because you have your fellow countrymen in other sports competing as well.

"This is certainly a taste of how it will be like to play in the Olympics," added David, whose recent rise to number three in the world rankings was hailed in her home country as "the best ever position by a Malaysian sportsperson".

Nicol David is seeded to reach the women's final in the World Games, where she would be expected to meet Australia's world No1 Rachael Grinham, the top seed. Nicol opens her campaign against the youngest player in the women's draw - Tenille Swartz, a 17-year-old South African who became her country's national champion earlier this year.