KUALA LUMPUR: National top women’s squash player S. Sivasangari will be banking on her experience in her bid for the second title at the National Squash Championships from July 8 to 12 at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.
The 23-year-old Kedahan, who recently progressed into the El Gouna International quarter-final, said the exposure gained through high-level international tournaments as a student athlete at Cornell University in the United States, has helped her raise her game.
The world number 19 Sivasangari said although she is more aggressive now, she still needs to work on her defensive techniques for the national championship, after having won the coveted women’s premier division title in the 2018 edition.
“I always have this mindset of not fearing the opponents and to always try to stay as long in court to get the points. So, I grow and learn better from the experience at those international tournaments.
“This time at the national championship, I am seeded first, while Aifa Azman and Rachel Arnold are second and third respectively, with a lot of junior players as well. We are good friends but at the court, it’s different. Obviously, I want to win the title so with that, I need to really focus and give my best,” she said at a press conference.
After the 2018 success, Sivasangari was eliminated in the semi-final by Rachel in 2019 and in 2020, she went down to Low Wee Wern in the final, as the latter claimed the title back to back in both editions.
The tournament was called off last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last month, Sivasangari became the first Malaysian to reach the last-eight stage of the major Professional Squash Association (PSA) event at the El Gouna International in Egypt since former squash ace Datuk Nicol David’s feat in 2018.
Meanwhile, world number 3 Rachel hopes her injury-free condition will help her display a stellar performance in the upcoming tournament.
“It has been a while since I played with Sivasangari and Aifa, but now this tournament is back after a year. I am confident with my experience and wiser with my game play,” she said. – BERNAMA
