
World No. 19 Rachel suffers shock British Open defeat
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 19 Rachel Arnold suffered a shock first-round exit at the prestigious British Open in Birmingham on Saturday.
Rachel, who won the China Open in November and reached the second round of the British Open last year, was swept aside by Egypt's world No. 38 Kenzy Ayman, losing 11-6, 14-12, 11-5 in just 26 minutes.
Compatriots Ng Eain Yow, Aifa Azman and Ainaa Amani will open their campaigns on Sunday, while S. Sivasangari will begin her challenge on Monday.

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Free Malaysia Today
12 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Sivasangari cruises into 3rd round of 2025 British Open
National women's squash champion S Sivasangari will meet Japanese player Satomi Watanabe in the third round of the 2025 British Open. (Facebook pic) KUALA LUMPUR : National women's squash champion S Sivasangari advanced to the third round of the 2025 British Open in Birmingham today. In the second-round match at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, the world No 8 player needed just 45 minutes to record a 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 victory over India's Ahanat Singh. Awaiting Sivasangari in the third round is the tournament's seventh seed from Japan, Satomi Watanabe, who also advanced after defeating France's Melissa Alves 11-8, 11-5, 11-1. Earlier, Sivasangari became the sole Malaysian female representative still continuing the challenge in the tournament after Aira Azman and Noor Ainaa Amani Ampandi were eliminated early. National men's squash champion Ng Eain Yow also suffered a surprising defeat to an unseeded opponent in the second round earlier this morning.


New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
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.


The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Aifa goes down fighting in first round of British Open
PETALING JAYA: National squash player Aifa Azman's (pic) run in the British Open in Birmingham came to a quick end in the first round yesterday. World No. 39 Aifa put on a good effort to fight back against world No. 29 Zeina Mickawy of Egypt, but it wasn't enough as she lost 10-12, 11-13, 11-9, 11-8, 7-11 in 51 minutes at the Solihull Arden Club.