ASIAN Games defending champion S. Sivasangari got her campaign in Japan off to a strong start, but she is refusing to look too far ahead at the ultimate prize.
Top seed Sivasangari cruised into the quarter-finals after winning 11-3, 11-5, 11-3 in 17 minutes against Sri Lanka’s Chanithma Sinaly at the Nagoya Kinjo Futo Arena yesterday.
Glad to have started with a straight set win, world No. 5 Sivasangari admitted that the competition would only get tougher from the last eight, where she is set to take on Hong Kong’s world No. 39 Ho Tze Lok.
“I started strong on the first day, and it’s all about building from here,” said the 27-year-old.
“It’s not going to be easy to get into the semis. From now on, the players are ranked above 40, so it will be hard.”
With the Olympic Games ticket up for grabs for the gold medallist, Sivasangari said she was not letting herself overthink the competition.
“It is pressure and motivation as well, but I’m not going to overthink and see too much further ahead.
“Everyone is ready physically, but it will also come down to who can stand strong when it matters most.
“There’s pressure so I’m excited to try and retain my title,” said Sivasangari.
Compatriot Aira Azman also entered the quarter-finals after knocking out Iran’s Najmeh Boushehrizadeh 11-2, 11-2, 12-10.
World No. 24 Aira will take on world No. 21 Chan Sin Yuk of Hong Kong today, and a win would see her meet Sivasangari in the semi-finals.
Men’s singles player and also defending champion Ng Eain Yow kept his hopes alive by defeating South Korea’s Ryu Jeong-min 11-3, 11-4, 11-5.
Eain Yow will also face a Hong Kong player in Lau Tsz Kwan for a spot in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Asian Games debutant Sanjay Jeeva saw his valiant campaign end just shy of the quarter-finals after he fell to India’s Veer Chotrani in a thrilling five-game battle.
World No. 59 Sanjay put up a strong fight but lost to the world No. 38 9-11, 11-8, 6-11, 17-15, 6-11 in 77 minutes.
In the mixed doubles, top seeds Syafiq Kamal-Aifa Azman and second seeds C. Ameeshenraj-Rachel Arnold also made it to the last eight stage.
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