Sangari out to make full use of second chance at title in HK

PETALING JAYA: National squash player S. Sivasangari is raring to go again in Hong Kong.

World No. 7 Sivasangari saw her Hong Kong Football Club Open title snatched away by Egypt’s Fayrouz Aboelkheir on Saturday, but the 26-year-old Malaysian admitted she wasn’t feeling at her best in the final.

It was a surprising result as top seed Sivasangari was on fire throughout the tournament, only dropping one set on her way to the final.

But the Malaysian couldn’t keep up her performance against third seed Aboelkheir as she fell 6-11, 9-11, 11-7, 4-11.

“Some losses hit deeper than others,” said Sivasangari on social media.

“I walked off knowing I had more to give, and that’s what hurts the most.

“But even in the frustration, I can’t ignore the small victory of me making the final despite not feeling my best.

“I’m very grateful for my team, who carried me through this week with their support. Disappointments aside, it’s time to rest.”

Sivasangari had won the Hong Kong Football Club Open in 2023 when it was a bronze-level event, but it has since been upgraded to a silver-level tournament.

The Kedah-born player will now seek a quick turnaround in Hong Kong as she will compete one step higher at the platinum-level Hong Kong Open, starting today.

Seeded seventh, Sivasangari will start her campaign against England’s Lucy Turmel in the first round today.

A win there could see her set up a second round match with France’s Melissa Alves, and it would be a repeat of the Hong Kong Football Club semi-finals match in which Sivasangari got past Alves in straight sets on Friday.

Meanwhile, world No. 21 Rachel Arnold, whose run last week was ended by Sivasangari in the quarter-finals, will get going again today when she takes on fifth seed and world No. 8 Tinne Gilis of Belgium.

World No. 25 Aira Azman starts her campaign today by taking on Egypt’s world No. 35 Hana Ramadan, a repeat of last week’s second round match, where Aira got past the Egyptian in four sets.

Aira, 21, however, had to end her run in the quarter-finals before facing Aboelkheir due to injury, and will hope those issues do not arise again today.

Aira’s older sister and world No. 34 Aifa Azman starts her tournament today against world No. 27 Zeina Mickawy of Egypt.