PETALING JAYA: Malaysian women's squash ace S. Sivasangari’s run at last year’s London Classic saw her take down giants on her way to the title.
But this time around, that role has been reversed as the Malaysian world No. 8 faces a giant-slayer in the form of England's Jasmine Hutton, No. 18, in the quarter-finals.
Sivasangari made her way into the last eight at the Alexandra Palace after winning her second round match against Hong Kong’s Ho Tze Lok 11-7, 12-10 on Thursday.
Fifth seed Sivasangari should be wary of Hutton, an opponent who is blazing her way through the tournament by taking down higher-ranked players.
Hutton reached her maiden London Classic quarter-finals after coming from a game down to defeat fourth seed Tinne Gilis 6-11, 11-7, 11-5.
Sivasangari pulled off a similar feat last year where she handed upsets to world No. 1 Nour El-Sherbini, No. 2 Hania El Hammamy, and No. 4 Nele Gilis on her way to the title.
If Sivasangari gets through, she could set up a meeting with world No. 5 and rising player Amina Orfi of Egypt, someone she has only beaten once in five meetings.
Meanwhile, Rachel Arnold ended her run in the second round after she fell 9-11, 8-11 to top seed Olivia Weaver of the United States.
In the men’s category, world No. 12 Ng Eain Yow kept his hopes alive by defeating world No. 22 Abdulla Mohd Al-Tamimi of Qatar 8-11, 12-10, 11-9 on Thursday.
But Malaysia’s top men’s player faces a stern test as he takes on world No. 5 Marwan ElShorbagy of England in the quarter-finals.
The fourth-seeded Englishman has won all four of their previous meetings, with the most recent win coming at the Squash on Fire Open final in Washington in April.
An upset from the Malaysian could see him meet either world No. 8 Youssef Soliman of Egypt or world No. 3 New Zealand player Paul Coll in the semis.
