Nicol David breezes through her first round match at Hong Kong Open
Malaysian world number one gets off to a good start on her 31st birthday in her quest for a 10th consecutive Hong Kong Open title
Nicol David turned 31 yesterday, showing no sign age is slowing her down as she began her campaign for an incredible 10th straight Cathay Pacific Sun Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open title with a straightforward victory over Malaysian compatriot Delia Arnold.
Her opponents, no doubt frustrated by David's long reign as world number one, might have taken note of last week's slip-up against Egypt's Raneem El Welily in the Malaysian Open semi-final.
I don't think it has anything to do with age; it 's just that there are better players out there and they are hungry for success
But David brushed aside any thoughts time was catching up, saying it was just a hiccup and she was intent on getting back to winning ways by defending her title in Hong Kong.
"I don't think it has anything to do with age; it 's just that there are better players out there and they are hungry for success. You give them an inch and they will take it and more," David said after her 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 opening-round victory against compatriot Delia Arnold.
"I have always enjoyed coming to Hong Kong and I hope this week will be a confidence booster, especially with the Asian Games coming up," David said.
Her imperious reign over the last decade includes eight successive years as world number one, seven times World Open champion and winner of the last two Asian Games gold medals. She says she has every intention of carrying on "for at least another five or six years".