KUALA LUMPUR – It’s another gold for Malaysia, thanks to S. Sivasangari, who outclassed Hong Kong’s Chan Sin Yuk 3-2 in the women’s singles squash category at the Hangzhou Asian Games today.
In an exhilarating match that was decided in a five-set battle, the 24-year-old started the first set with an 8-11 defeat in a short match that lasted only 8 minutes.
Sivasangari, who recently won gold in the women’s team event, fought hard in the second set to defeat Sin Yuk 15-13 in an intense 15-minute match.
The 21-year-old Hong Kong player, who has seven major titles under her belt, bounced back in the third set to win the match 12-10.
Sivasangari sealed the victory in style after defeating Sin Yuk in straight sets, 11-9 and 12-10, in a total of 23 minutes to secure her maiden gold in the category.
Team manager Mohd Nafzahizam Mohd Adnan expressed pride in Sivasangari’s achievement, noting that the victory reflects years of hard work.
“It was a nerve-wracking match from start to finish.
“She deserves this victory, and she worked hard for it, especially after she went through a tragic injury.
“To recover from such a tragic moment and make a comeback to win the gold medal is not an easy task. I’m really proud of her achievement,” said Nafzahizam.
Malaysia leads the table in acquiring the highest number of medals in this sport at the Asian Games, with a total of 27 medals won over the years (12 gold, 6 silver, and 9 bronze).
Adding today’s gold, the Malaysian squash team has secured one gold medal in the women’s team event, one silver in the mixed doubles event, and one bronze in the men’s team event.
Currently, Malaysia stands 13th in the Asian Games standings with a total of 25 medals (4 gold, 4 silver, and 12 bronze), with just 3 more needed to reach the country’s medal target. – October 5, 2023