Latest news with #SRAM
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Coach backs Sivasangari to shine at British Open
NATIONAL squash ace S. Sivasangari is poised to reach new heights at the upcoming British Open, with her coach Ajaz Azmat backing the world No. 8 to deliver a standout performance in Birmingham. The 26-year-old Malaysian, who created history by making it to the quarter-finals of the World Championships in Chicago earlier this month — a feat last achieved by Datuk Nicol David in 2017 — is brimming with confidence heading into the prestigious Diamond-level tournament. ALSO READ: Sivasangari smashes history – ends Malaysia's 8-year World Champs drought Sivasangari, who already clinched the Cincinnati Open title this year, has been training under the guidance of former world champion and three-time British Open winner Gregory Gaultier in Prague since April. 'Sivasangari's game has matured under Gaultier. I'm confident we'll see an even better version of her at the British Open,' Ajaz, who oversees her training in Malaysia, told New Straits Times. She starts her campaign with a first-round bye and is expected to cruise past her second-round match against either Scotland's world No. 53 Lisa Aitken or India's world No. 56 Anahat Singh. Her first major hurdle is anticipated in the third round against Japan's world No. 9 Satomi Watanabe, who, like Sivasangari, reached the World Championships quarter-finals and recently made the final of the Palm Hills Open in Giza. 'Satomi did well to reach the Palm Hills final and will be full of confidence going into Birmingham,' said Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) coaching director Andrew Cross. If Sivasangari overcomes Satomi, she is likely to face Egypt's world No. 5 Amina Orfi in the quarter-finals — a rematch of their Malaysia Cup clash in November, which Orfi won. Last year, Sivasangari exited the British Open in the second round after falling to Egyptian star Nour El Sherbini. In the men's draw, national No. 1 Ng Eain Yow, ranked 12th in the world, also received a first-round bye. He will face France's Victor Crouin (No. 14) in a tough second-round encounter. 'Matches against Crouin are always tight,' said Cross. 'He had to dig deep to beat him 20-18 in the fifth game at last year's Singapore Open.' Victory could set Eain Yow up for a quarter-final showdown with world No. 5 Joel Makin of Wales. Meanwhile, Rachel Arnold (No. 19), Aifa Azman (No. 39), and Ainaa Amani (No. 48) will also represent Malaysia in the women's main draw. Rachel will play Egypt's Kenzy Ayman (No. 38), Aifa meets Zeina Mickawy (No. 29), while Ainaa faces England's world No. 25 Sarah-Jane Perry in their opening matches.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
'Better than ever' – Coach backs Sivasangari to shine at British Open
NATIONAL squash ace S. Sivasangari is poised to reach new heights at the upcoming British Open, with her coach Ajaz Azmat backing the world No. 8 to deliver a standout performance in Birmingham. The 26-year-old Malaysian, who created history by making it to the quarter-finals of the World Championships in Chicago earlier this month — a feat last achieved by Datuk Nicol David in 2017 — is brimming with confidence heading into the prestigious Diamond-level tournament. Sivasangari, who already clinched the Cincinnati Open title this year, has been training under the guidance of former world champion and three-time British Open winner Gregory Gaultier in Prague since April. 'Sivasangari's game has matured under Gaultier. I'm confident we'll see an even better version of her at the British Open,' Ajaz, who oversees her training in Malaysia, told New Straits Times. She starts her campaign with a first-round bye and is expected to cruise past her second-round match against either Scotland's world No. 53 Lisa Aitken or India's world No. 56 Anahat Singh. Her first major hurdle is anticipated in the third round against Japan's world No. 9 Satomi Watanabe, who, like Sivasangari, reached the World Championships quarter-finals and recently made the final of the Palm Hills Open in Giza. 'Satomi did well to reach the Palm Hills final and will be full of confidence going into Birmingham,' said Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) coaching director Andrew Cross. If Sivasangari overcomes Satomi, she is likely to face Egypt's world No. 5 Amina Orfi in the quarter-finals — a rematch of their Malaysia Cup clash in November, which Orfi won. Last year, Sivasangari exited the British Open in the second round after falling to Egyptian star Nour El Sherbini. In the men's draw, national No. 1 Ng Eain Yow, ranked 12th in the world, also received a first-round bye. He will face France's Victor Crouin (No. 14) in a tough second-round encounter. 'Matches against Crouin are always tight,' said Cross. 'He had to dig deep to beat him 20-18 in the fifth game at last year's Singapore Open.' Victory could set Eain Yow up for a quarter-final showdown with world No. 5 Joel Makin of Wales. Meanwhile, Rachel Arnold (No. 19), Aifa Azman (No. 39), and Ainaa Amani (No. 48) will also represent Malaysia in the women's main draw. Rachel will play Egypt's Kenzy Ayman (No. 38), Aifa meets Zeina Mickawy (No. 29), while Ainaa faces England's world No. 25 Sarah-Jane Perry in their opening matches.
New Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Birthday boy Harith claims Auckland Open title
KUALA LUMPUR: Squash player Harith Danial scored the best birthday present he could hope for after beating compatriot Low Wa Sern in the final of the Auckland Open PSA Challenger in New Zealand today (May 25). Harith, who turned 19 yesterday (May 24), was forced to dig deep before securing a 11-5, 2-11, 16-14, 10-12, 11-6 win over Wa Sern (world No. 598) in 68 minutes. For Harith, who is the world No. 473, it was his second title this month after winning the UWE X Ace PSA Satellite in Bristol a fortnight ago. Harith, who has been based in Bristol since last year, said: "Wa Sern gave me a real tough fight in the final so I am glad to win." "Winning the title here is the best birthday present for me, especially since it is my first challenger title. It means a lot to me. "I am truly grateful to those who have supported me on and off the court. There is a long way to go but I will definitely treasure this moment. Hopefully more to come in the future." Harith, who won bronze in the World Junior Championships in Houston last year, came back from a game down to stun world No. 196 Benjamin Ratcliffe of New Zealand 8-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8 in the semi-finals yesterday. Wa Sern had also done well to upset world No. 276 Jooyoung Na of South Korea 11-7, 11-9, 11-7 in the semi-finals. SRAM director of coaching Andrew Cross said it was a great week for Harith and Wa Sern who were seeded 12th and 13th in the tournament but defied the odds to reach the final. "I am proud of their efforts," said Cross.
The Star
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Cross sings praises after Sivasangari stumbles in world meet quarters
PETALING JAYA: The dream run may be over, but S. Sivasangari (pic) can hold her head high. Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) coaching director Andrew Cross has praised Sivasangari for her commendable effort despite bowing out in the quarter-finals of the World Championships.
New Straits Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Eain Yow, Sivasangari out to emulate Nicol at World Championships
KUALA LUMPUR: Ng Eain Yow and S. Sivasangari have made inroads into the men's and women's elite squads, and they will be expected to shine at the World Championships, which start on Friday in Chicago. For the record, eight-time world champion Datuk Nicol David was the last Malaysian to reach the quarter-finals of the world meet — achieved in 2015. World No. 10 Eain Yow and world No. 9 Sivasangari were both third-round casualties in last year's edition in Cairo. However, both Malaysians must start making deeper runs at major events like the World Championships if they are to sustain momentum ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Former Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) director Major (Rtd) S. Maniam believes that based on their current rankings, Eain Yow and Sivasangari should be aiming to reach at least the quarter-finals in Chicago. "It's time for them to close the gap with the top eight players in their respective categories, and it should start in Chicago," said Maniam. "They must push themselves hard to reach the last eight." A redraw in the men's competition, following the withdrawal of world No. 5 Joel Makin of Wales, has done little to help Eain Yow's path. The Malaysian is expected to beat Englishman Patrick Rooney and France's world No. 27 Auguste Dussourd in the opening two rounds but will likely face world No. 1 Mostafa Asal of Egypt in the next. Asal, the runner-up last year to Peru's Diego Elias, has been in devastating form, having won the Optasia Open in London in March and the El Gouna International Open in Egypt last month. Maniam believes Asian champion Eain Yow needs to build strong self-belief to challenge players like Asal. "Eain Yow must believe he can beat anyone if he wants to achieve bigger things," said Maniam. Meanwhile, Sivasangari has shown encouraging signs since beginning work with former world champion Gregory Gaultier of France. Her standout performance this season was winning the Cincinnati Cup in February, followed by a runner-up finish at the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich last month, where she lost to world No. 1 and reigning world champion Nouran Gohar of Egypt. In Chicago, Sivasangari will begin her campaign against Spain's world No. 52 Marta Dominguez. If she progresses, the 26-year-old is likely to meet Egypt's world No. 17 Sana Ibrahim in the second round. Further ahead, she could come up against American stars Amanda Sobhy (world No. 8) and Olivia Weaver (No. 4) in the third round and quarter-finals. Sivasangari, however, should draw confidence from having beaten both players in Cincinnati — Sobhy in the final and Weaver in the semis. If she can reproduce her best squash, the Malaysian could even go beyond the last eight to set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash with world No. 2 and seven-time world champion Nour El Sherbini. Sivasangari has often spoken about her desire to follow in the footsteps of Nicol, who won Malaysia's only world title in Cairo in 2014. The other Malaysians competing in Chicago are world No. 72 Sanjay Jeeva (men's competition), world No. 19 Rachel Arnold, world No. 26 Aira Azman, world No. 38 Aifa Azman and world No. 48 Ainaa Amani (women's competition).
