Another Tamil gold medalist

Her name is Nicol David, a 27-year-old Malaysian professional squash player who recently won a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. You may be wondering where the Tamil connection is? Nicol David is a Chindian, a person of both Chinese and Indian descent. Her mother is Ann Marie David, a retired Malaysian Chinese school teacher, and the father is Desmond David, a Malaysian Indian (Tamil) engineer who is also a former state athlete footballer. Through the father’s side, there is a special bond with Chennai.

She is the reigning World Champion, British Open Champion and Asian Games Champion. Nicol has been World No. 1 since August 2006 and has won the World Open title four times in the last five years. She is the second Tamil to win a gold medal at the CWG. Earlier on this week Tamil gymnast ‘Prashanth Sellathurai’ won a gold medal for Australia.

Nicol won the elusive CWG squash singles gold medal when she defeated England’s Jenny Duncalf at the Siri Fort Sports Complex on Friday. She made her debut at the CWG in Kuala Lumpur back in 1998. Nicol & fellow Malaysian Ong Beng Hee are playing on Wednesday for the women’s doubles bronze medal. We at Thamarai wish Nicol the best for the future.