PETALING JAYA: Just a month before the Malaysia Games (Sukma), squash player K. Sehveetrraa had been doubtful if she could compete due to an ankle injury.
But despite the pain, she has pushed through to book herself a spot in the final on Tuesday (Aug 18).
The 21-year-old is now one step away from upgrading her 2024 Sukma silver to a gold, and the Kedahan aims to bring back glory to her state.
"Overall, I’m feeling good but my ankle has been a bother for some time now," said Sehveetrraa.
"I was very doubtful if I could even compete because four weeks before Sukma started, the doctor had confirmed that I had a partial tear in my ankle.
"I figured if I stopped training, the pain would subside. But it did not."
Sehveetrraa said she only resumed her Sukma preparations days before she was set to hit the court but even then, the pain was still nibbling at her heels.
"The same week as Sukma, I decided to start training again but the pain was still there. However, I had to push through."
Sehveetrraa added that she aims to reclaim the gold medal in the girls’ individual event that they last won in 2018 through Aifa Azman.
World No. 5 S. Sivasangari had won the previous edition 2016, which was the first gold medal for Kedah in the event at Sukma.
"I do feel slight pressure on that, plus I am the top seed. But given my injury, I am just going to give it my best on court," she said.
RESULTS
Men
Quarter-finals: Low Wa Sern (Prk) bt K. Khailash Ravi (FT) 11-4, 11-8, 11-3; Jayden Oon (Ter) bt Altamis Aqhar Sallam Sufian (Swk) 7-11, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8, 13-11; Raziq Putra Fakhrur Razi (FT) bt Tay Jun Qian (Sel) 11-6, 12-10, 9-11, 11-3; M. Nickhileswar (Sel) bt Aqil Mirza Naim Khairil Fariz (Ked) 4-11, 12-10, 11-9, 18-16.
Semi-finals: Low Wa Sern (Prk) bt Jayden Oon (Ter) 11-6, 11-5, 11-4; M. Nickhileswar (Sel) bt Raziq Putra Fakhrur Razi (FT) 11-9, 11-9, 1-11, 2-11, 11-4.
Women
Quarter-finals: K. Sehveetrraa (Ked) bt Anrie Goh (Ked) 11-3, 11-7, 11-6; Harleein Tan (Nse) bt Jinoreeka Ning (Per) 11-5, 11-7, 11-5; Whitney Isabelle Wilson (Swk) bt T. Dakshayani (FT) 10-12, 4-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-3; U. Thanusaa (Mel) bt Doyce Lee (Sab) 11-7, 11-5, 17-15.
Semi-finals: K. Sehveetrraa (Ked) bt Harleein Tan (Nse) 11-9, 11-6, 11-7; U. Thanusaa (Mel) bt Whitney Isabelle Wilson (Swk) 8-11, 13-11, 11-4, 11-13, 11-2.
