Remarkable article about Nicol David and Liz Irving partnership, one of the longest ones in the World of Squah…

READ THE SUN ARTICLE

Former world squash champion Nicol David helps youth build resilience through foundation

By the time Datuk Nicol David walked off the squash court for the last time, she had already secured her place in sporting history – eight-time world champion and nine years as world number one.

Yet, the legacy she is most invested in today has little to do with titles, trophies and recognition.

Instead, it lives in classrooms, community halls and modest squash courts, where children learn not just how to move, but how to think, relate and believe in themselves.

Today, Nicol is channelling the mental lessons she learnt through elite sports into something with far bigger impact: shaping resilient young Malaysians and instilling values that can help prevent bullying and violence, particularly against women and girls …..

…. She was barely in her teens when the Malaysian squash team introduced mental training, including visualisation and reframing negative thoughts into positive viewpoints.

“It really set me up for my future,” Nicol recalls of those early years, explaining how learning to manage pressure at 12 or 13 prepared her for the weight of national expectations that came with representing Malaysia at such a tender age.

Her coach Liz Irving saw it immediately. As a former world-class player herself, she recognised Nicol’s mental fortitude as a rare gift.

Her ability to focus, visualise and enter what athletes call “the zone” set her apart.

“That was one of her absolute superpowers,” Irving says, noting how Nicol could perform at peak mental clarity 90% to 95% of the time – an extraordinary feat in elite sports.