Sivasangari’s turn to flip script after Yow’s fall

Ng Eain Yow (right) in action with Paul Coll (left) at the El Gouna International. Credit - PSA Squash Tour

PETALING JAYA: National squash player Ng Eain Yow fell short in his bid to end his losing streak against Paul Coll, but S. Sivasangari will be hoping for better luck against a familiar foe at the El-Gouna Open.

Eain Yow’s 12th encounter against Coll from New Zealand ended with a 7-11, 2-11, 8-11 defeat in 47 minutes in the second round at the El Gouna Squash Complex in Egypt yesterday.

The two are no strangers on court with the match being their third meeting this year alone as Coll extended his head-to-head to 11-1, having only lost to Eain Yow at the Singapore Open in 2022.

Coll won their previous two meetings this year at the Windy City Open in February and the New Zealand Open last month.

Coll admitted the familiarity on court between the two made things difficult, commending Eain Yow’s never-give-up spirit during their battles.

“He (Eain Yow) is a class player. We’ve played each other so many times now that we pretty much know each other’s game quite well,” said the 33-year-old.

“It’s always a battle. He fought until the end, even when I had a few match balls, he kept fighting. It was definitely a tough one for me.”

National No. 1 Sivasangari will face a stern test as she takes on second seed Nour ElSherbini of Egypt in the quarter-finals today.

Fifth seed Sivasangari has only beaten ElSherbini once in their previous five meetings, which came at the 2024 London Squash Classic.

Their most recent meeting came at the Windy City Open, where ElSherbini won the five-set quarter-finals thriller in February.