PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s challenge at the World Championships rests on the shoulders of top squash player S. Sivasangari as she prepares for another daunting clash against world No. 1 Hania El Hammamy in the quarter-finals in Egypt today.
It marks the second straight year Sivasangari has reached the last eight of the prestigious tournament, matching her best-ever finish at the world meet.
The national No. 1 has had a flawless run so far, winning all three of her matches in straight games, but an even tougher test now awaits against home player El Hammamy, who will have the support of the crowd at the Palm Hills Sports Club in Giza.
Still, the 27-year-old has shown consistency this season, regularly reaching the latter stages of major tournaments and climbing to a career-high ranking of world No. 5 after winning the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich last month.
It was her second title of the year after winning the Australian Open crown in March.
“I’m happy to make the quarters again,” said Sivasangari.
“This year I’ve been reaching a lot more quarter-finals in the bigger events, which is great. Hopefully, I can take one more step and do better this time.”
Sivasangari has reached at least the quarter-finals in seven tournaments this year and captured two titles along the way.
However, against El Hammamy, history is not on Sivasangari’s side, having lost seven of their nine previous meetings, with the Egyptian remaining one of the dominant forces on tour.
But Sivasangari is determined not to let past results weigh on her mind as she chases a breakthrough win that would see her enter her maiden World Championship semi-final.
“I just try to focus on my game these days. I don’t think too much about what my opponents are doing or anything else,” she said.
A win for Sivasangari would set up a semi-final clash with either Japan’s Satomi Watanabe or Egypt’s rising player Amina Orfi.
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