Malaysian Nicol Advances Into British Open Semifinals

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- Squash queen Nicol David cruised into the semi-finals of the 2016 British Open squash Championship after edging Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy in the quarter-finals, on Friday. The 32-year-old world number two started off strong playing in the glass court at the Airco Arena in Hull, England by winning the first set on 11-4 but in the second set Omneya fought hard to level the score 1-1 with 14-12 scores. Nicol, who is eying her sixth British Open title, beat the tournament's sixth seed in a tense third set on 12-10 and later controlled the match all the way from the start in the fourth set to seal the 46 minute match with 11-2. She will later set the semi-finals clash agaist another Egyptian player, Nour El Sherbini Saturday. Nour, earlier booked her berth in the last four after defeating United States' Amanda Sobhy in straight set of 11-4, 11-7 and 14-12 in a 33 minutes match. The Penangite emerged victorious in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2014. -- BERNAMA