Don't write off Nicol as yet,” stresses Delia Arnold when she talks of her team-mate and Malaysia's legendary squash player Nicol David. “She may have slipped in ranking (fifth now) from being number one for a long time but watch out she will regain the top spot before long,” she went on, revealing the kind of inner strength and resilience which had characterised the grand lady of world squash during her record-breaking 109 month run as world number one.
The Malaysian star player Delia, who was in Chennai recently, said Nicol's greatest strength was adaptability. Currently she was doing her best to get used to the lowered tin sizes (the tin heights for women's matches had been reduced by two inches to 17 now) in the courts. This meant more bending, lower shots and most of all faster games. “She will do it,” is the confident belief of her state-mate and like all Malaysian players, her great admirer.
In Malaysia, the quite articulate Delia, an experienced professional herself, said every girl who took to squash, dreamt of emulating Nicol one day. “She has inspired many of us,” she said. But then with the Egyptians virtually running amok, so to say, with not just one but hordes of highly talented girls demanding attention in various top grade tournaments and championships world over will not the focus change? “Egypt is coming up with a good bunch of top talents. It is nice. Competitions increase. Standards grow. I myself have beaten Raneem El Weleily, the girl who took over from Nicol and I consider that win in the British Open last year, one of my career best moment. Yet certain things need not change for that,” Delia said to highlight Nicol's aura and greatness.
To many, her presence at the ISA junior Open was a pleasant surprise. Undoubtedly she turned out to be the centre of attraction not just for her sparkling eyes and ever-smiling face but the ease with which she performed on the court. There was no undue hurry in her movements but a certain assurance in her racket-swings as she sent the ball to just the places she wanted. That way both Dipika Pallikal and she (the two played a singles match) provided that touch of class which was an exhibition for the very many young talents who had turned around to watch. Delia had engaged herself in a doubles play too with Joshna Chinappa and a top junior Abhay Singh coming in. There was fun but there was class. Ultimately they enriched the settings.
The Malaysian was not new to ISA or to Chennai. It was her third visit she said but what impressed her at the Academy was seeing the juniors and being in their midst. “Their standards are so good. This is a good thing for India. I am sure many of them will rise to become stars in the game,” she said.
Currently, her focus is on the Asian Championship in Chinese Taipei. But, a true professional who plays 12 to 15 tournaments in a year, Delia's look out also is to strengthen her career. Last year was her best till date when she rose to rank 12. “I am aiming to touch that again and by the end of the year hoping to be in the top 10 in the world,” she said with a glint in her eyes.
Asked if India's leading players Joshna and Dipika were famous in Malaysia, Delia quipped “Why Malaysia only, they are well known the world over. They are world class players.”
