CIMB Bank Extends Sponsorship To Another Promising Squash Player

KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Bernama) -- After having sponsored Malaysian squash queen and world number one Nicol David for seven years, CIMB will be sponsoring another squash player soon. "We are extremely encouraged to have been involved in the development of squash in the country. We (CIMB) are exploring the possibility of commercially sponsoring an additional player whose name has yet to be announced. "We are looking at the current world ranking and talented young player. It can be he or she," CIMB Group Chief Executive Nazir Razak told reporters after witnessing the sponsorship renewal between Nicol and CIMB at the Auditorium, Bangunan CIMB in Damansara, here Wednesday. Also present at the ceremony was Squash Racquet Association of Malaysia (SRAM) president Syed Mustaffa Syed Ali. "We will make the appropriate announcement in due course," said Nazir. Earlier in his speech, Nazir said the decision to change the name of the CIMB KL Open to CIMB Nicol David KL Open was a tribute for Nicol's achievement and contribution to squash. "She (Nicol) has been a fantastic ambassador for us and we want to continue playing a part in her outstanding track record to dominate women's squash. I am in awe of Nicol's achievements. She is without doubt Malaysia's most successful athlete ever," said Nazir. He noted that when CIMB started sponsoring Nicol in 2005, Nicol was ranked world No 3 but has since grown from strength to strength to become the world No 1 and retain that status for six successive years. Meanwhile, Nicol in her acceptance remarks said the renaming of the CIMB KL Open was a great honour to her. "I am indeed really honoured with this acknowledgement. I think this is the first competition in the world with the name of an athlete who is still playing," said Nicol. The 28-year-old Penangite will be gunning for her eighth KL Open title in the competition's women category that has been upgraded to a Women's Squash Association (WSA) World Series Gold, which saw an increase of prize money from USD50,000 to USD60,000 (about RM180,000). All the top 16 women squash players in the world have confirmed their participation for the competition that starts Wednesday at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. -- BERNAMA