Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 15, 2023: Squash legend Nicol David has been appointed as Malaysia’s Deputy Chef de Mission for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
David, the retired eight-time world champion, will assist Chef de Mission Datuk Hamidin Amin in coordinating the preparation and supervision of Team Malaysia in Paris next year.
Reacting on Instagram to the news, David said: “It was always a dream of mine to compete in the Olympics and play for Malaysia. I even went on three campaigns around the world to pitch for squash to get into the Olympic Games but unfortunately we didn’t succeed.
“Two weeks ago I got a message from Malaysia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Hannah Yeoh, asking me if I would be keen to be the Deputy Chef de Mission. To be honest, I started crying.
"I was in shock because I never thought this would ever happen to me in my lifetime. I wrote back to her saying ‘You’re making me cry right now. I would be truly honoured to represent my country at the Olympics’ to which she said ‘Well, that’s done then’. I still couldn’t believe it when it officially happened in the press conference for the Road to Gold committee.”
David is part of Malaysia’s Road to Gold programme committee which is intended to provide elite athletes the support they need to challenge for gold in Paris as well as Los Angeles 2028.
David added: “Unfortunately I will not get to play anymore but it is even more meaningful to me because I will be there for the athletes and this will be another great contribution for my country. I believe that our athletes need encouragement and my goal is to be there to share whatever knowledge that I have gained in my career to support them in reaching their own dreams.”
“I expect myself to cry like a baby until the end of the Olympics in Paris 2024.
“Paris, here I come. Thanks Malaysia for the opportunity.”
