Sivasangari handed Tour Finals semi-final boost after withdrawals
KUALA LUMPUR: S. Sivasangari has been handed a major boost in her PSA Squash Tour Finals debut following the last-minute withdrawal of world No. 5 Amina Orfi of Egypt.
The world No. 8 Malaysian now has a genuine shot at reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament, which starts on Monday in Toronto.
Orfi's exit comes just days after reigning world champion and world No. 2 Nour El Sherbini also pulled out due to a shoulder injury, prompting organisers to conduct a fresh draw.
Sivasangari, 26, now finds herself in Group B alongside world No. 4 Olivia Weaver of the United States, Japan's world No. 7 Satomi Watanabe, and world No. 14 Fayrouz Aboelkheir of Egypt.
Group A features world No. 1 Nouran Gohar, Belgium's world No. 6 Tinne Gilis, American No. 9 Amanda Sobhy and England's No. 10 Georgina Kennedy.
Only the top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
While Weaver poses a stern test, Sivasangari will be confident against Fayrouz and Satomi, having enjoyed previous success against both.
She opens her campaign against Weaver on Monday, followed by Fayrouz on Tuesday and Satomi on Wednesday.
Sivasangari has played Weaver seven times, winning just once in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Cup in February, which she went on to win. She also beat Fayrouz twice last year and saw off Satomi in the third round of the recent British Open.
National coach Ajaz Azmat believes the redraw will likely work in Sivasangari's favour.
"She'll face a tough match against Weaver, but she should be able to get past Fayrouz and Satomi to finish in the top two," said Ajaz.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
38 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Rashid: Thailand may beat Malaysia to first Olympic badminton gold
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Rashid Sidek believes Thailand are emerging as a major force in world badminton and could well produce their first Olympic gold medallist at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The former world No. 1, who recently led the Malaysian Universities team to Bangkok for a series of friendly matches, said Thailand's rise is no fluke. It's the result of a thriving club system that has been developing talent for more than 15 years. "Thailand's success didn't happen overnight," said Rashid. "They've been building steadily, and now it's paying off." Thailand's badminton success is largely credited to its clubs, particularly the Banthongyord Badminton School, run by former international Patapol Ngernsrisuk. Ratchanok Intanon, Thailand's first world champion, emerged from this system in 2013. Kunlavut Vitidsarn, the reigning world No. 1 in men's singles, won the 2023 World Championship — the first Thai male to do so. In 2021, Decapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai won Thailand's first mixed doubles world title, and the frmer is now building a strong partnership with Supissara Paewsampran heading towards LA 2028. Rashid admitted that Malaysia's neighbours may now have the upper hand. "It won't be surprising if Thailand beat us to Olympic gold in LA," he said. "We have our strengths, but Thailand are now producing quality players regularly, and their club system is the reason. "Kunlavut and Ratchanok came through club training. In Thailand, badminton is not dependent on the national body. Clubs run full-fledged development programmes, starting as young as Under-10." Rashid likened Thailand's model to Japan's decentralised approach, where players train primarily at clubs and only join national camps occasionally. "Thailand already have multiple world champions. They're consistent and capable of winning Olympic gold. Even Taiwan, who also rely on a strong club system, have won two Olympic golds in badminton," said Rashid. In contrast, he warned that Malaysia's talent pool is shrinking, and an over-reliance on the BA of Malaysia (BAM) could prove risky. "We can't depend solely on BAM anymore. Our clubs need to grow and have full-time training programmes, just like in Thailand," he said. The Malaysian Universities team are already taking steps in that direction, working closely with leading Thai clubs like the Boonsak Ponsana Badminton School, T-Thailand, and SBU Jele, all coached by former internationals.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Minjee Lee grabs four-shot lead at 'brutal' Women's PGA Championship
LOS ANGELES: Australia's Minjee Lee defied difficult, windy conditions with a remarkable bogey-free three-under par 69 on Saturday to seize a four-stroke lead over Jeeno Thitikul at the Women's PGA Championship in Texas. Lee, chasing her third major title, fired three birdies in one of just three sub-par rounds at Fields Ranch East in Frisco, north of Dallas, where soaring temperatures and wind tested golfers for a third straight day. "I just try to stay patient out there," the 29-year-old said after building a six-under total of 210. "You can't get ahead of yourself, especially in these conditions." Trailing Jeeno by three to start the day, Lee grabbed her first birdie at the ninth, where she blasted out of a greenside bunker to four feet and made the putt. She finally took control at the par-five 14th, drilling a 19-foot birdie putt as Jeeno three-putted for a bogey that dropped her three strokes back. Lee added a birdie at the 15th, and remained bogey free with a par save at 18 – where her second shot raced through the green but she chipped to three feet. "I try to stay within myself and play the shot as best as I could," she said. "Just stayed patient, just take it as it comes." Lee, whose 10 LPGA victories include major titles at the 2021 Evian Championship and 2022 US Women's Open, said there would be plenty of work to do on Sunday despite her four-shot cushion. "It's just only getting harder and harder just with I think pressure of a major championship, and also just the course just demands so much from you," she said. World number two Jeeno's hopes of a first major title took an early hit with bogeys at the third and sixth. She rolled in a 12-foot birdie at the eighth, but dropped into a tie for the lead after back-to-back bogeys at 11 and 12. She bounced back from her bogey at 14 with a birdie at 15, but gave back a shot at the 16th, finishing with a four-over 76 for 214. Lee and Jeeno, both based in the Dallas area, were the only players under par heading into the final round. US veteran Lexi Thompson, playing a limited schedule this season, shook off a horrendous start to post a three-over par 75 to headline a trio sharing third place on one-over 217. Thompson opened with a triple-bogey and a bogey and added another bogey at the eighth before she made two birdies coming in. She was joined on one-over by South Korean Choi Hye-jin, who carded a 72, and Japan's Miyu Yamashita, who shot 73. World number one Nelly Korda had five birdies and five bogeys in her even par 72 to headline a group of four on 218. "It's brutal out there when it comes to the setup of the golf course, wind conditions, everything," Korda said. "I'm very happy with even par. "You're just happy to get 18 under your belt on a day like this," added the American, who said having substantial waits on several tees only added to the difficulty of the day. "You don't want to be spending 20 minutes and getting up to the next tee and then you're 15 minutes and getting up to the next tee and it's another 15 minutes," she said. "There is just, like, no momentum in it." Korda was tied with Ireland's Leona Maguire, Japan's Chisato Iwai, South Korean Lee So-mi and American Yealimi Noh – who had two eagles but also six bogeys in her 74. Australian Grace Kim had the low round of the day, firing six birdies in an impressive four-under par 68 that gave put her among a group of five players on three-over 219.--AFP
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Sivasangari handed Tour Finals semi-final boost after withdrawals
KUALA LUMPUR: S. Sivasangari has been handed a major boost in her PSA Squash Tour Finals debut following the last-minute withdrawal of world No. 5 Amina Orfi of Egypt. The world No. 8 Malaysian now has a genuine shot at reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament, which starts on Monday in Toronto. Orfi's exit comes just days after reigning world champion and world No. 2 Nour El Sherbini also pulled out due to a shoulder injury, prompting organisers to conduct a fresh draw. Sivasangari, 26, now finds herself in Group B alongside world No. 4 Olivia Weaver of the United States, Japan's world No. 7 Satomi Watanabe, and world No. 14 Fayrouz Aboelkheir of Egypt. Group A features world No. 1 Nouran Gohar, Belgium's world No. 6 Tinne Gilis, American No. 9 Amanda Sobhy and England's No. 10 Georgina Kennedy. Only the top two players from each group will advance to the semi-finals. While Weaver poses a stern test, Sivasangari will be confident against Fayrouz and Satomi, having enjoyed previous success against both. She opens her campaign against Weaver on Monday, followed by Fayrouz on Tuesday and Satomi on Wednesday. Sivasangari has played Weaver seven times, winning just once in the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Cup in February, which she went on to win. She also beat Fayrouz twice last year and saw off Satomi in the third round of the recent British Open. National coach Ajaz Azmat believes the redraw will likely work in Sivasangari's favour. "She'll face a tough match against Weaver, but she should be able to get past Fayrouz and Satomi to finish in the top two," said Ajaz.
