Nicols Triumph In World Games

Peter Nicol of Great Britain and Nicol David of Malaysia triumphed in today's squash finals at the World Games in Mülheim an der Ruhr in Germany - the Malaysian despatching Australia's world number one Rachael Grinham 9-4 10-8 9-1 in 36 minutes and the British Nicol crushing Frenchman Thierry Lincou, also world number one in the men's game, 9-3 9-0 9-4 in 59 minutes.

Both of the new world title-holders in this IOC-backed multi-sport event were second seeds - and both toppled favourites to take the titles without dropping a game throughout the event. And for former world number one Peter Nicol, the victory marked the 50th major international title of his illustrious career.

Nicol David looked in sparkling form as she took to the new all-glass court in front of a packed crowd at the Sport-Treff-Punkt centre.

Grinham, the 28-year-old from Queensland, opened up a 4-2 lead in the opening game. But David bounced back to race up to game ball at 8-4, before the Australian resisted her first attempt, then succumbed as the Malaysian took the first game.

The favourite looked a different player in the second, forcing her way through to a 4-0 lead, but again Nicol reclaimed the upper hand and clawed back the points to move ahead 7-5. But Grinham was still in the game and took the next three points to reach game ball at 8-7.

However, the ever-more focussed Malaysian saved the point and soon had her own game-ball at 9-8, which she duly converted as the Grinham reply hit the tin.

The 21-year-old former world junior champion from Penang led throughout the third game and, after 36 minutes, clinched her 9-4 10-8 9-1 world title victory - and the first World Games squash gold medal for Malaysia.

"Nicol's been playing really well lately - she was always strong as a junior and always gets everything back. And now her attacking game is getting stronger too," Grinham told the audience afterwards.

"It's always disappointing to lose in a final, but it has been a great week, a great experience and a great atmosphere here," added the Australian.

"I thought I had a pretty good chance in the second game, but in the third she seemed to pick up the pace - she was getting better while I wasn't prepared enough to deal with it."

A beaming Nicol David admitted that winning the World Games title was a huge thing: "I wanted to enjoy myself here - but to become the champion is an honour," said the world number three.

"Playing Rachael is always a big game. But I felt good and played well - I had to make sure she didn't get into her game, and had to really step it up to do that.

"I don't think she was at her best as it's the first tournament of the season - but it was a good build up event for me to prepare for what's to come," added the new champion.

Peter Nicol had said throughout the tournament that he was unsure of how well he would fare as the event has come midway through his summer training schedule. But the performance he displayed against Lincou, the player who has topped the world rankings throughout this year, firmly indicated that the 32-year-old has rediscovered his appetite and enthusiasm for the game.

The Englishman forged a 3-1 lead in the opening game and Lincou fought back to 3-3. But those two points became the last he scored until Nicol was 6-0 up in the third game, when a tired shot into the tin gave the Frenchman his first point on the scoreboard for more than half an hour - an achievement greeted by a cheer from the crowd normally reserved for winners!

Nicol was in devastating form, retrieving almost everything shot that Lincou could put his way. From 1-7 in the third game, Lincou moved ahead to 4-7 as the Briton seemed visibly tired, but once Nicol won back the serve, he immediately regained the upper hand and, at match ball, cracked a low winner to the back of the court that gave him the title.

"Winning my 50th title is a big landmark for me - and I'm really happy," the smiling Londoner told the crowd before the medal presentations. "I didn't quite realise what a big event this was before I got here, but I'm delighted I came and even more delighted that I won."

When the tournament MC suggested to the new champion that he seemed to be in good shape, Nicol replied: "I know - I was surprised myself! Mentally I'm focussed and wanted to play - even though it's in the middle of my summer training period. But I'm looking forward to getting fitter, stronger and better!"

Remarkably Lincou has not beaten Nicol on the PSA Tour for more than four years: "I felt early in the first game that Thierry didn't believe he could beat me tonight. I think he struggles with me," said Nicol.

When asked by a German TV interviewer what his plans now were, Nicol replied with a gleam in his eye: "I believe there's a party this evening - and that's where I'm heading!"

Lincou acknowledged that Nicol has improved since the last time they met: "The key thing is his stamina, his extra endurance - and in these conditions that really makes a difference," said the runner-up.

"He is playing better - he's much stronger at the back of the court, and quicker and more accurate down the walls. It's really hard to create an attacking position against him.

"It shows what a great athlete he is that he can put in a performance like that," added Lincou. "It's clear that he's been training hard - his motivation is amazing.

"But this event has been really good for me in my preparation for the Pakistan Open. I needed some stressful situations."

At the presentation ceremony on court after the men's final, World Squash Federation President Jahangir Khan and the German Squash Federation President Michael Elger presented gold medals to Peter Nicol and Nicol David; silver medals to Thierry Lincou and Rachael Grinham; and bronze medals to losing semi-finalists Nick Matthew, James Willstrop, Linda Elriani - all representing Great Britain - and Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy.

Men's final:
[2] Peter Nicol (GBR) bt [1] Thierry Lincou (FRA) 9-3, 9-0, 9-4 (59m)

Women's final:
[2] Nicol David (MAS) bt [1] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 9-4, 10-8, 9-1 (36m)