Founded by David and former Colombian squash player Marina de Reyes, NDO will provide subsidised after-school squash training and English tutoring for children between eight and 12 years old from low and middle-income families.

The NGO’s lead programme, dubbed “Little Legends”, was designed by David in collaboration with the US embassy and will bring the children through five years of training and classes at the Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resort.

The launch today was attended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, and Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, as well as youth and sports minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

In her speech, the eight-time world champion described NDO’s launch as the most significant day in her life, and thanked the King and Queen for gracing the event.

David recalled how she gained the chance to play squash when she was just five years old and how it had changed her life.

“It showed me the importance of hard work, dedication and humility. This is why I believe that providing opportunities to children will change their future, like how mine was.

“My goal now is to give that back to the future generation, in hopes that they can also reach their dreams and become a generation that inspires themselves, their families and their community,” she said.

David is designated as head coach for the squash programme, while the English classes were designed by the US embassy, in line with the education ministry’s curriculum.

At the event, she welcomed the first 58 “Little Legends” who were accepted into the programme.