Malaysia's top women's professional squash player, S. Sivasangari, continues to make waves at the London Classic with a remarkable performance that saw her defeat world No. 4 Nele Gilis of Belgium, securing her spot in the final on Sunday (March 31).
Despite a shift in competition format to best of five sets, the world No. 16 Sivasangari showcased her resilience and skill, clinching a hard-fought victory with scores of 10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 10-12, 11-9 in a gripping semifinal encounter that lasted 94 minutes.
Notably, Gilis had previously won all three of her encounters against Sivasangari, making this triumph even more significant.
This milestone victory also marks Sivasangari's debut appearance in a gold level tournament of the Professional Squash Association's (PSA) world tour, highlighting her growing stature in the sport.
In a stunning upset the day before, Sivasangari had already made headlines by defeating world No. 1 Nour ElSherbini of Egypt in the quarter-finals.
Next up, Sivasangari is set to face off against world No. 2 Hania El Hammamy in the final, after El Hammamy secured victory in the all-Egyptian semifinal clash against world No. 3 Nouran Gohar with scores of 11-4, 12-10, 7-11, 11-6.
As she prepares to vie for the championship title, Sivasangari's exceptional performance and unwavering determination continue to captivate fans and inspire fellow athletes worldwide.
Image Credit : Squash - PSA World Tour
Source : Awani, The Star
Revathi
Mon Apr 01 2024