Can't walk over this Egyptian
PETALING JAYA: Squash player S. Sivasangari needs to find a way to counter the aggressive play of rising Egyptian star Amina Orfi after her third defeat on the trot against her nemesis at the British Open.
Sivasangari lost 2-11, 11-4, 7-11, 9-11 to the 17-year-old debutant Orfi in a quarter-final clash lasting 59 minutes in Birmingham on Thursday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
36 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Debutante Sivasangari ready to punch above weight at PSA Finals
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 8 S. Sivasangari is eyeing a major breakthrough in her debut at the PSA World Tour Finals in Toronto next week after landing a decent group draw. The 26-year-old, who won the recent Cincinnati Cup and trains under French legend Gregory Gaultier in Prague, will be up against world No.1 Nouran Gohar (Egypt), No.4 Olivia Weaver (the United States) and No.7 Satomi Watanabe (Japan) in Group A. The season-ending tournament, featuring the world's top eight players, takes place from June 22-27. The top two players from each group will progress to the semi-finals. Group B consists of world champion and world No. 2 Nour El Sherbini (Egypt), No. 5 Amina Orfi (Egypt), No. 6 Tinne Gilis (Belgium), and No. 9 Amanda Sobhy (US). While Gohar has proved to be a tough nut to crack. Sivasangari has lost all four of their meetings, including in the Grasshopper Cup final in April. She has won once in seven meetings against Weaver and defeated Satomi at the recent British Open. National coach Ajaz Azmat believes the Asian champion is in the best shape mentally and physically ahead of the tournament. "She's training well, focused on quality over quantity, and looking sharp," said Ajaz. "The best-of-three format suits her, and she's confident about her chances against Satomi and Weaver." Ajaz added that her qualification marks a proud moment for Malaysian squash. "It's a huge honour for Sivasangari and for Malaysia to have a player in the PSA Finals again. The last was Datuk Nicol David, who won the title in 2011 and 2012."
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Golf-DeChambeau, Mickelson among notables to miss U.S. Open cut
Jun 13, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; Bryson DeChambeau plays his shot from the tenth tee during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images OAKMONT, Pennsylvania (Reuters) -Defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau and record six-times runner-up Phil Mickelson were the high-profile players to miss the halfway cut at Oakmont Country Club on Friday. DeChambeau, who was bidding to become the first repeat U.S. Open champion since Brooks Koepka in 2018, carded a seven-over-par 77 in the second round that left him at 10 over on the week and three shots outside the projected seven over cut line. The big-hitting DeChambeau, a fan favorite who went close at the year's first two majors, looked to be in a decent spot after the opening round but made three consecutive bogeys late in his front nine on Friday and could not recover. Mickelson, in the last year of a five-year exemption into the U.S. Open for winning the 2021 PGA Championship, finished eight over on the week in his latest bid to complete the career Grand Slam of golf's four majors. Four of the top 10 players in the world ranking missed the cut, a group that in addition to DeChambeau included Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg and Sepp Straka. Other notables to miss the cut included 2019 British Open winner Shane Lowry and former U.S. Open champions Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick and LIV Golf's Dustin Johnson. (Reporting by Frank Pingue; Editing by Will Dunham)
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Club World Cup a chance for MLS to shine: Giroud
LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles FC striker Olivier Giroud says the FIFA Club World Cup is a chance to showcase Major League Soccer as the tournament kicks off this weekend. LAFC are one of three MLS sides entered in the 32-team tournament which begins in Florida tomorrow when Lionel Messi and Inter Miami face off against Egyptian club Al-Ahly. The Seattle Sounders are the other MLS team in the tournament. Former France international Giroud, who joined LAFC last year after three seasons with AC Milan, told reporters yesterday he believed MLS was underrated by the rest of the world. "It's a great opportunity for Seattle and Miami and Los Angeles Football Club to show the quality of the league," Giroud said. LAFC only forced their way into the Club World Cup via a hastily arranged playoff last month following the 11th hour expulsion of Mexican side Leon. The MLS side are grouped with Premier League giants Chelsea, Brazil's Flamengo and Tunisian side ES Tunis. LAFC will kick off the tournament against Giroud's former club Chelsea on Monday in a game that they will start as clear underdogs. Giroud though believes LAFC and other MLS teams may be able to spring a surprise against European clubs still feeling the after-effects of a gruelling season. "These European top European teams, they will maybe feel a bit tired after a long season so it may be an advantage," Giroud said. "It's always nice to stay positive. Some of them have played 60, 70, 75 games already so I think that's a good test for the MLS teams. We need to grab that chance to show Europe what we're made of." — AFP
