Sivasangari survives scare to reach British Open third round
KUALA LUMPUR: Asian champion S. Sivasangari is through to the third round of the British Open, but only after a stern test from India's rising star Anahat Singh in Birmingham on Monday.
The world No. 9 Malaysian, who received a first-round bye, was made to work hard before finally subduing world No. 57 Anahat 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 in a 45-minute battle.
She will now face Japan's world No. 7 Satomi Watanabe on Tuesday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Satomi, a finalist at last month's Palm Hills Open in Egypt, breezed through her second-round match, needing just 20 minutes to dispatch France's Melissa Alves 11-8, 11-5, 11-1.
The clash between Asia's top two stars promises to be a fierce contest, with Satomi holding a slight edge after defeating Sivasangari at the World Team Championships in Hong Kong in December.
National coach Ajaz Azmat said it was a solid start for the Malaysian, but warned that the scare from Anahat should serve as a wake-up call.
"Anahat really gave Sivasangari some anxious moments," said Ajaz.
"She took a 10-8 lead in the first game, and although Sivasangari clawed her way back, she had to dig deep after dropping the second.
"A win is a win, and now she'll turn her focus to the next challenge."
Looking ahead, Ajaz admitted the match against Satomi will be a major test.
"Satomi has been in excellent form lately. Sivasangari will have to be at her absolute best to book her place in the quarter-finals," he said.
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