JAKARTA: Nicol David celebrated her 35th birthday in style on Sunday as she won a record fifth women’s individual gold medal at the Asian Games.
The World No 9 bounced back from 2-1 down to edge compatriot and 40th-ranked S. Sivasangari 11-13, 11-9, 5-11, 11-6, 11-8 for the title.
It added to Nicol’s near-flawless record at the Games, where she has lost only once in six visits since her debut in 1998 — the 2002 (Busan) final against Hong Kong's Rebecca Chiu.
She is the most successful Malaysian athlete in the Games with seven gold, including two in the team event.
The Penang-born stunned the world of squash when she won her first Asian Games gold as a 14-year-old in 1998 (Bangkok), and went on to spend a record 108 months as World No 1 from Aug 2006 to Sept 2015.
“It is a meaningful gold as it is my last Games outing. I am glad to deliver a gold to Malaysia,” said a delighted Nicol.
On the final, Nicol said: “I knew it would be a tough final as Sivasangari had defeated two higher ranked opponents en route to the final.
“I needed to use my experience to win the fourth game after she had taken the lead. And once I achieved it, I just continued my momentum in the fifth.
“Sivasangari played really well and we have a strong team here. She has quality and has a good future ahead,” Nicol added.
Nicol and Sivasangari along with Low Wee Wen will start their campaign in the team event on Monday.