Nicol Slips At Final Hurdle

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's world number one Nicol Ann David lost in the final of the 2015 Windy City Open on Wednesday, shattering her bid to clinch her maiden title in this tournament. Nicol went down to Egypt's Raneem El Weleily in the 57-minute encounter with 16-14, 10-12, 7-11 and 7-11, held at the University Club of Chicago, Chicago, United States. It was the second time that the two players met in a final this year after the Cleveland Classic on Feb 3, where Nicol celebrated her first win in 2015. "I'm absolutely thrilled to win this. It has not been an easy tournament for me, and all credit to Nicol. She played an amazing match but I'm glad I was able to push on and finish of this time," Raneem said of her victory as quoted in the squash website, www.squashsite.co.uk. According to the website, the first set went point for point until Raneem led 10-8, but Nicol managed to hold firm the game and sealed it with 16-14. In the next set, Raneem once again took the lead and managed to finish it off with 12-10. The Egyptian led throughout the third set by winning it 11-7. Nicol fought hard in the fourth set and leading the game at one point but Raneem pulled away again and sealed the game with 11-7 to win the championship. -- BERNAMA