David, who celebrated her 100th month at the top of the world rankings in November, has already won major titles at the Asian and Commonwealth Games in 2014, as well as at the British Open in Hull. 

But the one that got away was the delayed 2013 World Championships in Penang in March, 2014, where she suffered a surprise semi-final defeat, before England's Laura Massaro secured a maiden title.

Yet, with Massaro's defence ending in the quarter-final stage this time around with a loss to compatriot Alison Waters, David was always favourite to make swift amends as she powered into the final.

el Weleily, one of the rising stars of the sport, provided a huge challenge however, forcing the 31-year-old Malaysian to use every bit of her experience, guile and ability.

After trailing 10-6 in the fourth game, David fought back brilliantly in front of a partisan crowd to win 5-11, 11-8, 7-11, 14-12, 11-5, changing her tactics to a higher risk, drop-shot oriented game to cause her opponent to eventually crack. 

Nicol David celebrates her brilliant fightback over her tenacious Egyptian opponent
©Squash 2020



"I don't know what to feel actually," the reflective champion admitted afterwards, adding that it was the greatest win of her illustrious career. 

"You work so hard and when the final plays out like this you don't know what to do with yourself - but I am so very happy.

"There were moments when I thought it could be over, but I didn't want it to end that way, I dug very deep, because I wanted it badly.

"Raneem is so strong, and I knew that if I didn't do something about it she would take it. I wanted to make it happen, so, yes there was a change of emphasis in the way I played.

"It was quite difficult to do that, when Raneem is going for broke. It gives you a little less time to play, but I had to take time away from her too, and I found a way to do that."

Despite the eventual disappointment, the game was another great advert for the popularity of the sport in Egypt, as well as for the general strength of women's squash, as the sport continues its quest for Olympic inclusion at Tokyo 2020.

The fact the final was so tightly contested between two players from countries not generally seen as global sporting superpowers should certainly have helped its cause. 

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