KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s campaign in the Women’s World Championships came to an end after national squash player S. Sivasangari crashed out in Egypt.
The 20-year-old was outmatched by her nemesis Hania El Hammamy of Egypt once again and went down 8-11, 12-10, 8-11, 9-11 in a tough 53-minute third round match in Cairo yesterday.
World No. 48 Sivasangari lost the opening game but showed determination to take the second set.
She fought hard in the third but lost. It all looked as though it was over when she trailed 1-6 in the fourth set but fought back to level the score at 9-9 before world No. 11 Hania held on to reach the quarter-finals.
Despite her third defeat in four meetings to Hania, Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia director Mej (Rtd) S. Maniam gave due credit to Sivasangari.
Earlier, she had defeated world No. 8 Amanda Sobhy of the United States in the opening round and knocked out world No. 29 Milou van der Heijden of Holland in the second round.
“It was a tight match for Sivasangari in all the sets against Hania. She made two unforced errors when it was 9-9 in the fourth and that cost her,” said Maniam.
“She needs to handle the crunch points better and not play catch up all the time. She also needs to volley a lot more. Having said that, it has been an awesome world championship for Sivasangari.”
Meanwhile, Maniam was also pleased with the 21-year-old Ng Eain Yow, who lost in the third round of the Egyptian Open on Monday. He went down fighting 11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 6-11, 6-11 to world No. 59 Baptiste Masotti of France.
“He played his heart out but lost. I’m happy with his overall performance, especially his hard earned five-set victory in the second round against Raphael Kandra (Germany, world No. 30).
“It’s time for him to get back home and prepare for the World Championships (in Doha, Qatar, from Nov 8-15).
RESULTS
EGYPTIAN OPEN
Third round: Marwan El Shorbagy (Egy) bt Mostafa Asal (Egy) 11-5, 11-2, 7-11, 7-11, 11-5; Joel Makin (Wal) bt. Victor Crouin (Fra) 11-8, 11-8, 12-10; Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy) bt. Leo Au (Hkg) 11-6, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9.
WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Third round: Camille Serme (Fra) bt Yathreb Adel (Egy) 11-6, 11-2, 11-6; Nour El Sherbini (Egy) bt Joshna Chinappa (Ind) 11-5, 11-3, 11-6; Joelle King (Nzl) bt Annie Au (Hkg) 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 16-14; Hania El Hammamy (Egy) bt S. Sivasangari (Mas) 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9.
The 20-year-old was outmatched by her nemesis Hania El Hammamy of Egypt once again and went down 8-11, 12-10, 8-11, 9-11 in a tough 53-minute third round match in Cairo yesterday.
World No. 48 Sivasangari lost the opening game but showed determination to take the second set.
She fought hard in the third but lost. It all looked as though it was over when she trailed 1-6 in the fourth set but fought back to level the score at 9-9 before world No. 11 Hania held on to reach the quarter-finals.
Despite her third defeat in four meetings to Hania, Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia director Mej (Rtd) S. Maniam gave due credit to Sivasangari.
Earlier, she had defeated world No. 8 Amanda Sobhy of the United States in the opening round and knocked out world No. 29 Milou van der Heijden of Holland in the second round.
“It was a tight match for Sivasangari in all the sets against Hania. She made two unforced errors when it was 9-9 in the fourth and that cost her,” said Maniam.
“She needs to handle the crunch points better and not play catch up all the time. She also needs to volley a lot more. Having said that, it has been an awesome world championship for Sivasangari.”
Meanwhile, Maniam was also pleased with the 21-year-old Ng Eain Yow, who lost in the third round of the Egyptian Open on Monday. He went down fighting 11-7, 10-12, 11-7, 6-11, 6-11 to world No. 59 Baptiste Masotti of France.
“He played his heart out but lost. I’m happy with his overall performance, especially his hard earned five-set victory in the second round against Raphael Kandra (Germany, world No. 30).
“It’s time for him to get back home and prepare for the World Championships (in Doha, Qatar, from Nov 8-15).
RESULTS
EGYPTIAN OPEN
Third round: Marwan El Shorbagy (Egy) bt Mostafa Asal (Egy) 11-5, 11-2, 7-11, 7-11, 11-5; Joel Makin (Wal) bt. Victor Crouin (Fra) 11-8, 11-8, 12-10; Karim Abdel Gawad (Egy) bt. Leo Au (Hkg) 11-6, 4-11, 11-7, 11-9.
WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Third round: Camille Serme (Fra) bt Yathreb Adel (Egy) 11-6, 11-2, 11-6; Nour El Sherbini (Egy) bt Joshna Chinappa (Ind) 11-5, 11-3, 11-6; Joelle King (Nzl) bt Annie Au (Hkg) 8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 16-14; Hania El Hammamy (Egy) bt S. Sivasangari (Mas) 11-8, 10-12, 11-8, 11-9.
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