Seven-time World Champion and world No.1 Nicol David notched up her 8th win in the Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Squash Open 2013 by beating Egyptian Raneem Ei Weleily in a four game Final at the open air Harbour-side venue on Sunday Dec 8.
David, displaying a bundle of energy, concentration and speed, took the Final in just 26 minutes. The Malaysian again sailed through the tournament, dropping only two games in the process: one to Camille Serme of France; and the other in her Semi-final match against Alison Waters of England.
From the performances in this tournament it is apparent that there are still two levels at the top of the women’s game. Any one of the top few players below David can, on their day, beat the other, but David is still so far above them that the task of beating her is just too great.
It was David’s ninth consecutive win in Hong Kong since she first one the World Open title here in 2005.
Weleily (currently ranked No.3 in the world) had a fairly easy road to the Final, but could not keep up with the skills and power of David.
Hong Kong’s Annie Au (No.16) had a good tournament beating Laura Massaro (No.2) of England in the Quarter Finals, but lost to Weleily in the Semi-finals in three straight games.
The Hong Kong Open remains one of the main tournament’s on the women’s professional circuit attracting the world’s top 5 (8 of the top 10) players as it did in the men’s tournament, which was won by England’s Nick Matthew.
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