Latest news with #Sivasangari
The Star
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Nicol urges caution over placing too high hopes on Sangari, Eain Yow at 2028 Olympics
Malaysia's S. Sivasangari defeated Japan's world N0. 7 Satomi Watanabe to reach the quarter-finals of the British Open squash championships for the first time. PETALING JAYA: It would be folly to put too high hopes on squash players S. Sivasangari and Ng Eain Yow to deliver the goods in the sport's Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028. National squash legend Datuk Nicol David warned that it is still too early to expect too much from Sivasangari and Eain Yow, adding that anything can happen in the next three years, including fiercer competition from other countries. World No. 8 Sivasangari has been placed in the Road to Gold programme this year while Eain Yow, by virtue of his current 12th position in the men's world rankings, is under the Fast Track programme. "It is too early. In three years, many things can happen. We don't want to put pressure on our athletes to win anything because squash is a new sport in Los Angeles,'' said Nicoll, who is also the founder of Nicol David Organisation (NDO). "Countries such as China and South Korea have also started investing aggressively in squash development knowing that the sport is going to be played in the Olympics for the first time. "The competition for LA28 is going to be more challenging with new dynamics coming into play. "Many countries are now spending big funds and aim to bring up many athletes to compete in the Olympics. We need to be fully prepared because the competition will only get tougher. "Malaysia cannot take anything for granted just because we also have players like Sivasangari and Eain Yow who are able to contend on the world stage.'' The former world No. 1 described the RTG and Fast Track initiatives as the best platform to help Sivasangari and Eain Yow compete with international players. "I am proud that squash is now standing in line with other elite sports when two of our country's representatives are selected to participate in this programme. RTG and Fast Track are the best form of support to help them reach a higher level."
New Straits Times
01-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sivasangari recharges for new season
KUALA LUMPUR: S. Sivasangari, who performed inconsistently in the 2024-25 squash season, needs to buck up for the 2025-26 season which begins in September. The 26-year-old Kedahan played in 15 tournaments this season and won one title — the Cincinnati Cup in February and rose to a career best of world No. 7. She finished second in the Malaysia Cup last November and Grasshopper Cup in Switzerland in April, reached two semi-finals: the Silicon Valley Open in California last October and Singapore Open last November. Sivasangari started the 2024-25 season as world No. 9 but was upset by Egypt's world No. 16 Nada Abbas in the third round of the Egyptian Open last September in her opening season tournament. She ended the season on a disappointing note after losing all her group matches — to American world No. 4 Olivia Weaver, Egypt's world No. 14 Fayrouz Aboelkheir and Japanese Satomi Watanabe — in the PSA Tour Finals in Toronto last week. Sivasangari said: "The 2024/25 season is done and dusted. Full of ups, downs, growth, and change. Some big goals achieved, but even more lessons learned. "Time to rest, recharge, and go again," said Sivasangari, who is based in Prague under former world champion Gregory Gaultier.
The Star
26-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Sivasangari exits PSA Finals winless
PETALING JAYA: S. Sivasangari's campaign at the PSA Squash Tour Finals in Toronto ended in disappointment as she exited without a win in the group stage. Drawn in Group B, Sivasangari was eager for a victory in her final group match against Japan fourth seed Satomi Watanabe on Wednesday (June 25).
New Straits Times
26-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sivasangari bows out of PSA Tour Finals without a win
KUALA LUMPUR: S. Sivasangari bowed out of the PSA Squash Tour Finals in Toronto without a win, losing all three of her Group B matches. The world No. 8, who lifted the Cincinnati Cup title in February, suffered her third straight defeat on Wednesday, going down 8-11, 11-9, 11-7 to world No. 7 Satomi Watanabe of Japan. It was Sivasangari's first loss to Satomi in seven PSA Tour meetings, and the result saw her finish bottom of the group. She had earlier lost to world No. 4 Olivia Weaver of the United States and world No. 14 Fayrouz Aboelkheir of Egypt. National coach Ajaz Azmat said Sivasangari started well by taking the opening game against Satomi but couldn't maintain her momentum. "Sivasangari gave her best, but she just couldn't find the points to win the match," said Ajaz. "She'll now have two months to rest and regroup before the new season starts in September." Satomi, who became the first Japanese player to reach the Tour Finals semi-finals, praised her opponent's spirit. "All credit to Sivasangari, she showed her fighting spirit right until the end," said Satomi. "It's tough to stay motivated once you know your qualification chances are slim, but she still turned up for the final game. "I knew the second game was crucial. I was down 6-3 and really happy to turn it around." Satomi will face Group A winner and world No. 1 Nouran Gohar of Egypt in the semi-finals, while Weaver takes on world No. 10 Georgina Kennedy of England in the other last-four clash.
The Star
25-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Unforced errors during important points led to Sangari's surprise loss
S. Sivasangari lost to Egyptian Amina Orfi in the Malaysia Cup final in November. PETALING JAYA: Costly mistakes proved to be too much for national squash player S. Sivasangari at the PSA Squash Tour Finals in Canada. The world No. 8 couldn't find her footing as she took her second defeat in the group stage after falling to world No. 14 Fayrouz Aboelkheir of Egypt on Tuesday. Sivasangari had the upper hand but missing crucial points gave Aboelkheir the chance to catch up and win the match 10-11, 11-9, 11-7 at the Revival Film Studios in Toronto. National coach Ajaz Azmat said Sivasangari could have gotten past Aboelkheir, but mistakes in the second and third allowed Aboelkheir to fight back. "Sivasangari played well but made unforced errors during important points. She was leading in the second set but the mistakes affected her momentum," he said. It was a surprise loss by the Malaysian as she had won both their previous meetings last year against Aboelkheir at the Singapore and Hong Kong Opens. Aboelkheir said she was wary of Sivasangari, knowing that the Malaysian No. 1 can spring a surprise anytime. "She (Sivasangari) is very dangerous, especially in a best-of-three match. You never know when it's going to go your way but I'm glad to win against her," said Aboelkheir. However, the hope remains that Sivasangari will win her final Group B stage fixture against No. 7 Satomi Watanabe of Japan. Although the chances of making it to the semi-finals are slim, Sivasangari will need to win in straight sets against Watanabe and hope the other group fixture between Olivia Weaver and Aboelkheir ends in straight sets as well for Weaver. Weaver sits top of the group with seven points, with Watanabe and Aboelkheir in second and third with four points each, while Sivasangari has one point as she won one set against Aboelkheir. Meanwhile in Group A, world No. 1 Nouran Gohar of Egypt and world No. 10 Georgina Kennedy of England sealed their spots in the semi-finals with a match to spare. Gohar defeated world No. 6 Tinne Gilis of Belgium 11-2, 11-4, while Kennedy took down world No. 9 Amanda Sobhy of the United States 11-4, 11-10.
