CIMB Malaysian Open 2008

25 July 2008 @ The Curve, Mutiara Damansara

I was having a meet up with my friends at The Curve. We watched Dark Knight, watched Nicol David's match and had dinner.

You see, my second purpose at The Curve is to watch the semi-final match between Dato' Nicol David and Rachael Grinham (Aus). Nicol won 11-4, 7-11, 11-1, 11-6 in 43 minutes.


Nicol was controlling the game very well and she only dropped one set to Rachael.

After the match, the three hungry ghosts were deciding where to eat dinner and SiawCheng finally suggested Italiannies. So, here we are.

SiawCheng, ChunHao and Me [why all wear black?]

We shared an Angel Hair Pomodoro and a plate of Shrimp Aglio Olio. We've got lots to catch up with after not seeing each other for so long.


While we were happily chit-chatting, Nicol David came in and sat right beside me, as in my chair is parallel to hers but we're on different table lah. Wootz~! DATO' NICOL DAVID!

Then I approached her to take a photo with me and wished her the best for finals, as promised to SiawCheng. [To read the full story, please visit SiawCheng's blog]

Me and the young Dato' Nicol David, Malaysia Squash Queen!

I give her a lot respect because she's so good in squash yet she can do well in her academics [9 A's in her SPM]. That's about 8 or 9 years ago when I first learnt about her. Now, being world number one, she inspired a lot of young kids to take up this sport.

This 2 fellas also don't want to miss the chance to take photo with Dato' Nicol though they know next to nothing about squash [SiawCheng even thought that Nicol is a tennis player! gah!]


26 July 2008 @ The Curve, Mutiara Damansara

It was the Finals of CIMB Malaysian Open 2008!

Look at the crowd - M'sians are very supportive eh

My balloon stick - one only because I dropped the other one from 1st floor due to my over-excited mood and hitting too hard on the ballon sticks

trophies, flowers, mock cheques

First match: Ong Beng Hee vs Mohd Azlan Iskandar

It was long and boring until the forth set where Azlan is leading 10-7. He just needed one point to win the tournament. Miracurously, BengHee turned the table and won the forth set, and he took the final set as well. Good play, BengHee!

BengHee won 11-6. 8-11, 4-11, 12-10, 11-8 in freaking 96 minutes

Second Match: Dato' Nicol David vs Natalie Grinham (Ned)

Natalie is Rachael's sister whom Nicol beat in the semis. This match is more interesting than the Men's final though the playing time in only one third of the men's final.

Nicol was dominating the whole court and she played exceptionally well. I was very impressed by how she hit the drop shots to the back of the court with such high accuracy.

Nicol won 11-1. 11-4, 11-6 in just 31 minutes

Congratulations to Nicol and BengHee

Kudos to all players and organizers. Still excited on the photo I took with Dato' Nicol. Hehe... Billy, out.


Credits:

• All close-up photos are taken by Glenn Guan, a photo journalist for The Star [Glenn's blog]
• SiawCheng - for bring her camera on semi-final day AND suggesting to eat at Italiannies

*Thanks Glenn and Joanne*