KUALA LUMPUR – S. Sivasangari has been identified as Malaysia’s leading medal prospect for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, while Ng Eain Yow has been challenged to reach the semi-finals as squash prepares to make its Olympic debut.
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) president Gerard Monteiro said both players can now focus on raising their performance levels after securing their places at LA28 through their respective singles triumphs at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games last month.
Speaking to Scoop, Monteiro said Sivasangari has the potential to challenge for an Olympic medal, while Eain Yow must take another step forward to reach the last four.
“For Sivasangari, she should be the medal target. For Eain Yow, he has a little bit more to get into the semi-finals,” he said when met yesterday.
Both players secured their Olympic berths after successfully defending their respective singles titles at the Asian Games.
Eain Yow defeated India’s Abhay Singh in the men’s final, while Sivasangari overcame India’s Anahat Singh in the women’s final, making them the first Malaysian squash players to qualify for LA28.
With qualification secured, Monteiro said the priority is now to ensure both players continue improving rather than becoming complacent with their current form.
“They have already qualified, so now they need to concentrate on raising their level and getting themselves ready for the Olympics,” he said.
Monteiro added that SRAM’s technical team already has long-term plans for both players, with their training programmes to be adjusted according to their progress and individual requirements.
“Our main plans are already in place. The technical directors will adjust the plans as we go along, and if we need extra exposure or additional training, we can add that,” he said.
The duo played key roles in Malaysia’s record-equalling campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where the country claimed four gold medals across the singles and team events.
Sivasangari’s medal prospects have been strengthened by her successful defence of the women’s singles title, while Eain Yow also retained his men’s singles crown to underline Malaysia’s strength in the sport.
However, Monteiro believes the next two years will be crucial in helping both players bridge the gap between their current performances and the demands of Olympic competition.
“Once you have qualified, you cannot just sit back. You have to keep improving because the Olympics will be a different level,” he said.
For Sivasangari, the challenge is to translate her success at the Asian level into an Olympic medal, while Eain Yow will be looking to break into the semi-finals against the world’s best players.
With both players having secured their places at LA28, SRAM can now concentrate on fine-tuning their preparations, providing additional training and exposure where necessary, and ensuring they are ready to compete at the highest level when squash makes its Olympic debut. – October 9, 2026