GOVT HONOURS NICOL DAVID WITH ARENA IN HER NAME

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Chalking success after success on the world stage has been a norm for Malaysian squash queen Nicol Ann David, who has been showered with various incentives and rewards for her feats.

And to show further appreciation for the glory Nicol has brought for the
country, the government Tuesday officially named the main court at the National
Squash Centre at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil here after her.

Tears flowed freely from the 26-year-old sports great when Youth and Sports
Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek officialy named the court the "Nicol David Arena".

Also present were Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Razali Ibrahim, NSC
director-general Zolkples Embong, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president
Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar and Nicol's parents.

"The question of naming a sports facility after a person still active or was
once active had been questioned before. That is why the ministry first sought
the Cabinet's sanction before proceeding with naming the court after Nicol,"
Ahmad Shabery told reporters after the event.

"Our aim was to honour Nicol and also future sports greats. This is an
initial step and is also part of of our efforts to raise the standard of sports
in the country.

"I believe this will inspire other sportsmen and sportwomen to strive for
the highest heights because they would be duly recognised," he said, adding that
the practice of naming sports facilities after living athletes was not something
new as it was also done in other countries.

"Examples are the Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne, Australia), Ato Boldon Stadium
(Trinidad and Tobago) and Usain Bolt Highway in Jamaica."

Besides the naming of the court after Nicol, Ahmad Shabery also opened a
mini-gallery at the complex featuring the trophies and medals won by her so far.

He also presented a cheque for RM20,000 (US$5,899) under the Sports
Achievements Reward Scheme to Nicol for retaining the world championship title
for the fourth year running in Amsterdam, last September.

National junior squash player Ivan Yuen received RM29,375 (US$8,664) for
winning the gold medal in the individual category at the 14th Asian Youth
Championship (Jan 16-23 ) and the silver medal in the same category at the World
Youth Championship (July 19 - Aug 2).

Meanwhile Nicol in response said:"It was overwhelming that the court was
named after me. I am still in a state of shock at the moment.

"It (the Arena Nicol David squash court) means a lot to me and to have this
appreciation is truly something I never dreamt of. It's all coming together.
It's just like the icing on the cake," she told reporters when asked about her
feelings.

"Definitely it is a great honour given by the country. It was truly amazing
when I saw my name up there. What I have done and achieved up to this point is
not without the support from the ministry and the National Sports Council,"said
Nicol, who returned home on Monday after defending her fourth Hong Kong Open
title last Sunday.

Northern state of Penang-born Nicol was first introduced to the sport at the
age of five and after three years, she started to take the sport seriously.

Her successes in the sport include recognition by the Women's International
Squash Players Association (Wispa) with the latest success being the Women's
World Open which she wrested in September.
-- BERNAMA