Can’t walk over this Egyptian

PETALING JAYA: Squash player S. Sivasangari needs to find a way to counter the aggressive play of rising Egyptian star Amina Orfi after her third defeat on the trot against her nemesis at the British Open.

Sivasangari lost 2-11, 11-4, 7-11, 9-11 to the 17-year-old debutant Orfi in a quarter-final clash lasting 59 minutes in Birmingham on Thursday.

It was Sivasangari’s first last-eight appearance in the prestigious tournament but could not match Orfi, who started at a fiery pace to break her rival’s tempo.

The Egyptian was gracious in her win.

“I feel so happy to be in the semi-finals. Obviously, after Hania El Hammamy withdrew, I was seeded fourth and so based on the seedings, I’m supposed to make it,” said Orfi.

“But it’s huge for me. It’s my first British Open and Siva has been doing really well and she’s really dangerous.

“She has beaten most of the top four this season and last season, so I am very happy with the win today.

“I even missed my high school graduation to be here in this tournament. But I’m really happy it paid off and I’ve made it to the semi-finals. I’m just trying to enjoy what I’m doing for now,” said Orfi on the PSA World Tour website.

The teenager played every shot to perfection on Thursday, giving Sivasangari no chances to play her attacking game as she took the lead 11-2.

Sivasangari fought back to level 11-4 but the Egyptian reclaimed the lead with an 11-7 win.

Sivasangari made errors at key moments to allow Orfi to win the fourth game 11-9, thus setting up an all-Egyptian semi-final affair against top seed Nouran Gohar today.

It is Sivasangari’s third straight loss to the Egyptian world No. 5, who caused shockwaves when she won the World Junior Championships in France in 2022 aged 14.

Amina had beaten Sivasangari in the Malaysia Cup final and the Singapore Open semi-finals in November.

Sivasangari now needs to wait until the British Open is over to find out if she can qualify for the season-ending World Tour Finals in Toronto, Canada from June 23-27.

Only the top eight in the men’s and women’s rankings will feature.

The Kedah-born player is currently ranked eighth in the women’s rankings for the World Tour Finals.