Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's world number one Datuk Nicol David on Friday claimed her seventh World Open title after making light work of England's Laura Massaro in the final.

According to event's official website - www.worldopensquash.com - the mighty 29-year-old Penangite put up a sizzling performance to dismiss third seeded Laura in just 44 minutes.

In the final held at Camana Bay in the Cayman Islands at 9pm (10am Malaysian time) Nicol clearly outclassed her taller opponent in straight sets of 11-6, 11-8 and 11-6.

With the win, Nicol has created history of her own and women's squash to win the world title for the seventh time.

Nicol had won the title in Hong Kong in 2005, Northern Ireland (2006), England (2008), Egypt (2010) and twice in the Netherlands (2009, 2011).

Earlier in the semi-final, she defeated sixth-seeded Jenny Duncalf, also from England, also in straight sets 11-7, 11-4, 11-2.

Following that, the AFP wrote that Nicol continued to make nonsense of the idea that a bevy of young challengers might be closing the gap on her.

Meanwhile Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) president Datuk Syed Mustaffa Syed Ali when contatced by New Sabah Times yesterday in Kuala Lumpur, said Nicol has done her country proud with her achievement.

Congratulating Nicol, Syed Mustaffa said Nicol was arguably the greatest athlete in Malaysia.

"When she won the World Open title for the sixth time last year, it was already a world record...and now she has won it again, it is fantastic," he said.

Syed Mustaffa expressed the hope that she could maintain her fitness and form to win more World Open titles.

"Why not win it 15 times and play in the Olympics if squash is included in 2020."

Squash is not in the 2016 Rio Olympics but according to Syed Mustaffa, they are fighting hard for the sport to be in the 2020 Olympics.

Nicol will be in her late 30s in 2020.

--Courtesy of New Sabah Times