Cover Through the Nicol David Organisation, Nicol works closely with schools and communities to build resilience, confidence and emotional strength among Malaysian children.
Through the Nicol David Organisation, Nicol works closely with schools and communities to build resilience, confidence and emotional strength among Malaysian children.
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Datuk Nicol David steps into a new mission to strengthen Malaysia’s future through movement, resilience and community
For most Malaysians, Datuk Nicol Ann David will forever be remembered as the indomitable world squash champion who ruled global courts for a record-breaking nine years. But for Nicol, legacy was never meant to end with trophies.
“I learned so much in my time when I was competing as a professional that I know that the learnings I gained have to be passed on to build a nation,” she reflects. “I always believe that when I retire I want to give back to Malaysia and hence why the Nicol David Organisation came together.”
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Today, through the Nicol David Organisation (NDO), she has shaped a mission far bigger than elite performance. The NDO’s mission aims to strengthen the mental resilience, wellbeing and confidence of Malaysian children and communities through sport.
Her shift from world champion to advocate was sparked by an alarming reality. According to the National Morbidity Index 2022 by the Ministry of Health, four out of five children are inactive, one in three are overweight or obese and six in ten are having mild to severe symptoms of depression.
Above The inaugural Sports and Mental Health Summit 2025 brought together athletes, policymakers and educators to have conversations around wellbeing
The inaugural Sports and Mental Health Summit 2025 brought together athletes, policymakers and educators to have conversations around wellbeing
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The answer was more than just awareness—it was action. And she knew that movement would play a transformative role. “Children that engage in sports or physical activity have stronger body confidence, they develop team work and social skills but most importantly, they develop resilience,” she says. That belief grew into structured programmes, targeted interventions and eventually a national-level platform to unite partners across Malaysia.
In 2025, NDO launched Positive Play (+Play), a month-long intervention programme for public schools designed to support physical activity and emotional wellbeing simultaneously. “I learnt from a young age, and through my squash career mental training, that consisted of learning to turn negative thoughts around, and to see things from a positive outlook,” Nicol shares.
+Play combines 45 minutes of physical training with 45 minutes of positive psychology—gratitude, breathing exercises, making good choices and reframing negative thoughts.
In just eight months, the impact has been wide. “We have reached 39 public schools in KL with over 1,200 children and reached 3 schools in East Malaysia impacting 300 children,” she notes. The results speak for themselves: improved body confidence, emotional resilience and healthier thinking patterns among participants.
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While counselling often becomes the default response to mental health issues, Nicol argues that sport should be a first line of intervention because it meets children where they are.
“Sports lowers cortisol levels which immediately makes everyone feel better,” she explains. “In sports, you only get better by keeping going—the moment you stop the growth stops too.” It’s here that resilience is built. Not just through movement and discipline, but through the small but powerful victories that come from showing up.
Above Hannah Yeoh gave an inspiring speech to the crowd at the summit
Hannah Yeoh gave an inspiring speech to the crowd at the summit
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Beyond physiology, sport offers something many children—and adults—struggle to find today: genuine human connection. “In this digital age I feel our children are more connected through their phones than through genuine human connection. Sports has it all.”
Mental wellbeing remains sensitive and often stigmatised in Malaysia. Nicol wanted NDO’s programmes to shift that narrative.
“My biggest goal in NDO was always to make sure our children and families feel this is a safe space,” she says. The organisation infuses positive psychology across all modules and trains its team in Trauma Informed Care to support children compassionately and responsibly.
Above NDO’s initiatives position sport as a powerful first-line intervention for mental wellbeing
NDO’s initiatives position sport as a powerful first-line intervention for mental wellbeing
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Every year, NDO monitors the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Survey (DASS) among its Little Legends and the results are remarkable. “96% of children rate in normal levels,” she shares proudly. “It reaffirms that they have found confidence in themselves and have the skillset to manage their emotions.”
This year, Nicol expanded her mission through the inaugural Sports and Mental Health Summit 2025, a four-day event that brought together leaders across business, sport, government, education, media and the public. “This Summit is one of our many efforts to mobilise national awareness and action to build a future-ready Malaysia where sport is central to education, community and national development,” she explains.
Above Nicol at the Squash and Fun Carnival
Nicol at the Squash and Fun Carnival
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Held at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, the Summit featured keynote speakers including Youth & Sports Minister YB Hannah Yeoh, athletes like Goh Liu Ying and Liz Irving, Protech Ambassadors, celebrities and coaches. A public squash carnival, exhibition matches and family-friendly events made the Summit intentionally accessible and not just expert-led. “With the hashtag #PLAYFORMENTALHEALTH our goal was to create awareness in children, adults and families about the importance of utilising sports as a tool to combat mental health, and how we really need to reconnect with PLAY,” Nicol adds.
Malaysia’s social structure is varied and complex, yet Nicol sees sport as one of the strongest equalisers. “The beauty of sports is that it brings people together—regardless of race, religion, or background,” she says. “When you step onto a court, a field, or a futsal pitch, it doesn’t matter who you are and that is the true value of sport- that everyone is equal and everyone can access because you’re playing for something bigger than yourself.”
After years of winning trophies and medals for herself, Nicol now measures success differently. “I was the one that wanted the wins, I was the one that wanted the titles. It was my pure ambition pushing myself to be the very best,” she shares. “That mindset has changed completely in my life, and it has been my biggest blessing to realise that I can use whatever I reach for myself to make a positive impact on others. Now my dream is to be a champion in creating positive change in my country.”
Her hope is simple; that Malaysians finally understand that physical health and mental health come together. “One feeds the other, and we cannot separate them. I wish for people to understand that the more active they are, the better mental health they will have.”
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As Senior Lifestyle Writer, Aina writes across the lifestyle vertical, covering wellness, travel, arts and entertainment. Based in Kuala Lumpur, she previously worked at CLEO Malaysia, where she headed the lifestyle, culture and entertainment sections.
