Extra motivation but more pressure for Sangari in bid to defend title

THE mission to defend the gold medal at the Asian Games is not merely about repeating the success for national women’s squash player S. Sivasangari (pic), but is also an important platform in her bid to qualify for the Olympic Games.

The 27-year-old player admitted that this factor provided additional motivation ahead of the women’s singles competition starting today.

“Of course, the goal is to win gold and defend the title, but everyone wants to win. That is not the question.

“The question is how I will prepare for each match and how I want to be mentally prepared,” she said after training at the Nagoya Kinjofuto Arena.

Sivasangari said representing Malaysia was always something special to her, while the opportunity to pursue an Olympic berth through winning gold was another motivation for her to give her best in Aichi-Nagoya.

“Both are important. Representing Malaysia is always a big thing, and the Asian Games are also very important to me.

“This year, there is another motivation, which is to secure an Olympic berth. So, it is an additional motivation and additional pressure,” she said.

She said the mental aspect would play a major role after undergoing physical preparations through about one and a half months of intensive training in Prague, Czech Republic, before beginning her Professional Squash Association (PSA) season by competing in London and Qatar.

“I have done the work physically, but when I arrive at the tournament, it is more about the mental aspect,” added Sivasangari, who won the singles and team gold medals at the last Games in Hangzhou. — Bernama