KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 — The home crowd is backing Datuk Nicol David to win her ninth world title when Malaysia host the 2016 PSA Women’s World Championship at National Squash Centre, Bukit Jalil from April 23-30.

This is despite the squash queen’s poor form which saw her losing the number one world ranking to Raneem El-Welily of Egypt in September last year.

The Penangite, 32, has dropped to fifth in world ranking after failing to win any title this year.

Nicol failed to defend the prestigious British Open title after losing to world number two, Nour El Sherbini of Egypt in the semi-final last month.

Her last victory was in December 2015 after she beat world number one, Laura Massaro of England, to win the Hong Kong Open title.

Despite winning the world title eight times, Nicol has never won when Malaysia hosted the prestigious tournament in 1996, 2004 and 2013.

In 1996, Nicol lost in the preliminary round. In 2004, she lost to Natalie Grinham of Australia in the semi-final while in 2013, she lost to Sherbini, also in the semi-final.

Based on the draw, Nicol will face Natalie’s sister, Rachel of Australia in the opening round, and barring an upset, she is slated to face Sherbini in the quarter-final.

Nicol had met Sherbini four times in which she failed to beat the young Egyptian player.

PSA Women’s World Championship offers a Citroen DS4 car, total prize money of US$185,000 (RM743,061) and ranking points to the winners. — Bernama