PETALING JAYA: National squash player S. Sivasangari’s journey at the El Gouna International ended in the second round after she was defeated by Egypt’s Salma Hany on home turf on Sunday (April 13).
Seventh seed Sivasangari was leading by two sets before Hany mounted a stellar comeback as the Malaysian fell 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 2-11, 8-11 in 50 minutes at the El Gouna Squash Complex in Egypt.
It had been some time since both players met on the court, with the last match-up coming at the 2022 edition of the tournament, which Sivasangari won. But Hany now leads their head-to-head 2-1.
World No. 11 Sivasangari made her way into the second round after winning against compatriot Aira Azman in the opening round.
Meanwhile, No. 20 Rachel Arnold remains the only Malaysian in the tournament after she won her first-round fixture against Egypt’s Zeina Mickawy on Saturday.
It was a long battle b,ut Rachel eventually came out on top with an 11-5, 11-8, 11-13, 10-12, 11-5 against Mickawy, but faces a steeper challenge as she meets fourth seed Olivia Weaver in the second round on Monday (April 14).
Rachel has never defeated Weaver a,s the United States player has won their three previous meetings, with the most recent coming at the Cincinnati Gaynor Cup in February.
