KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 — Malaysia has been awarded the rights to host the next three editions of the Women’s World Squash Championship, beginning this year.

Hallmark Events Group managing director Simon Arnold, in announcing this today, said the decision by the Women’s Squash Association (WSA) and the World Squash Federation (WSF) were made as Malaysia had vast experience in organising such tournaments.

This was in addition to Malaysia having two top players in world number one Datuk Nicol David and world number eight Low Wee Wern.

The first of the three events will be the 32nd edition to be held from December 11-18.

Malaysia have hosted three previous editions of World Championship — in 1996, 2004 and 2013.

“They have a very strong tradition in squash and hosting the World Championship for the next three years will continue to build on this legacy,” Arnold said in a statement issued by WSA.

“Furthermore the next generation looks in good hands following the gold medal success of both the boys and girls in the recent Asian Junior Team Championship,” Arnold added.

The tournament will feature the top 23 players from the WSA World Rankings and the eight players who make it through the World Championship qualifying competition, which will be held before the event proper.

Nicol who made history recently by topping the world rankings for the 106th month, to become the longest-reigning World No.1 of all-time, is the firm favourite to extend her remarkable record of eight world titles when the world championship is played on home soil at the end of this year.

The 31-year-old Penangite won the world title eight times — in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. — Bernama