Sivasangari holds court on emotional return in New York

Well done: S. Sivasangari receiving the Cornell ring from the university’s outgoing athletic director Andy Noel.

KUALA LUMPUR: Top national women’s squash player S. Sivasangari made an emotional return to the court when she played her first competitive match for Cornell University in New York.

Playing for the first time since suffering injuries in a car accident in June, the world No. 18 helped Cornell overcome University of Pennsylvania 6-3 in the Ivy Squash League.

Her 11-6, 6-11, 11-6, 11-5 win over Malak Taha and fellow Malaysian player Lai Wen Li’s 8-11, 11-9, 11-7, 11-1 win over Avni Anand were crucial in helping Cornell snap a 19-game losing streak against Pennsylvania since 2001.

Mostly importantly, Sivasangari’s return to competition is the best possible news for the squash fans who have been anxiously waiting for her to make a comeback.

“Stepping back on court and playing my first official match this year have been an emotional time for me,” tweeted Sivasangari.

“Excited to be back and see myself rebound in a new direction this season.

“Also, honoured to be receiving the ring from Cornell for winning Individual Championship last year.”

Sivasangari, who trains under Australia’s former world champion David Palmer, had won the collegiate national individual championship in March last year, beating Egyptian Hana Moataz of Harvard 11-4, 2-11, 11-9, 12-14, 11-7.

She received the Cornell ring for her effort from the university’s outgoing athletic director Andy Noel prior to the match against Pennsylvania.

Sivasangari had shown significant recovery from the accident and resumed her training at the National Squash Centre in November before heading to New York last month.

She will be making her international comeback at the Squash on Fire Open in Washington from Feb 22-26.

It will be her first since winning the national squash title in Bukit Jalil just a week before the car accident.

Sivasangari, a communications student, is in her final semester and will concentrate fully on her professional career later this year.