* Nicol becomes Malaysia’s best Asiad athlete
* First time two Malaysians contested a final for the gold medal
MALAYSIA’S women’s squash supremacy was on show at the Yeorumul Courts as seven-time World champion Datuk Nicol David defeated compatriot Low Wee Wern to retain her women’s singles gold medal with a 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10 in the final which lasted one hour..
It was Malaysia’s second gold medal at the 17th Asian Games and Nicol proudly collected her fourth gold medal to add to the golds won in Bangkok (1998), Doha (2006) and Guangzhou (2010). The Penangite’s other gold medal came from the women’s team event also in Guangzhou.
Along the way Nicol wrote her name in Asian Games history as Malaysia’s most successful Asiad athlete with five gold medals. Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan, Ng Boon Bee and Shalin Zulkfili have gold medals each to their credit.
While Wee Wern settled for the silver, Ong Beng Hee won the bronze medal in the men’s singles after losing in the semi-finals to India’s top seed Sourav Ghosal 11-9, 11-4, 11-5. The Malaysian had won the gold medal in the same event at the last games in Guangzhou in 2010.
Wushu contributed Malaysia’s first gold on the first day of the games through Tai Cheau Xuen.
Meanwhile Kuwait’s Abdullah Kh Kh HM Almezayen upset Saurav 10-12, 2-11, 14-12, 11-8, 11-9 to win the men’s singles gold medal after 87 minutes.
