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Malaysian S. Sivasangari (right) became the first player from the country to win a Professional Squash Association World Tour gold-level final since Nicol David in 2015.
The seventh seed outlasted world No. 2 Egyptian Hania El Hammamy 11-9, 5-11, 13-11, 12-14, 11-8 in Sunday’s London Squash Classic final at Alexandra Palace to cap an outstanding tournament, reported The Star.
The 25-year-old had earlier defeated world No. 1 and seven-time world champion Nour El Sherbini of Egypt in the quarter-final and world No. 4 Nele Gilis of Belgium in the semi-final.
“Proud of the squash I played this week in this beautiful venue and over the moon to capture my biggest title yet!,” Sivasangari said on X. “Massive thanks to my team for always trusting in me along the way.”
She also told Twentytwo13: “Beating these top players back-to-back in one tournament was a real test for me, and I did it.
“I dedicate this win to my family, my coaches (David Palmer and Ajaz Azmat), my mental training and strength trainer and all my supporters in Malaysia. A huge thank you to my sponsors for always believing in me.”
It has been a remarkable two years of recovery for Sivasangari, who has bounced back from a near career-ending car accident in June 2022. She sustained fractures on her face but more frighteningly a fracture of her C1 vertebra. The injuries meant she had to pull out of the Commonwealth Games that year.
For two months, she wore a neck collar and often needed her mother to give her a bath.
With her victory on Sunday, she has reached her highest world ranking – 13th.
Her sensational run in London was hailed across Malaysia, with eight-time world champion Nicol egging on the youngster to go after her dreams.
“I watched her match (against El Hammamy) and she was amazing,” Nicol said. “She’s got a lot of squash sense and her awareness on the court is immaculate.”
Nicol thinks that Sivasangari can go a long way in the sport and emulate even her own staggering achievements.
“She can go as far as she wants to, and all we have to do is to encourage,” said Nicol, who won the Asian Squash Championship a record nine times and is considered one of the greatest female squash players ever.
Sivasangari, who won the Asian Games individual and team titles in 2022, will now look to crack the top 10 and be more consistent on the world tour.
“The win is a big confidence booster. Beating these top players is not a one-day job. I have put in a lot of work for the past couple of years,” Sivasangari told The Star.
“I will keep working harder to achieve more of my goals, including the Olympics.”
