WORLD squash No. 9 S. Sivasangari, will have to miss Deepavali celebrations this year as she competes in the US$75,000 China Open, beginning tomorrow in Shanghai, following her recovery from a foot injury, reported the New Straits Times.
Seeded second in Shanghai, Sivasangari faces a challenging draw, with several Egyptian players standing between her and her target to justify her seeding.
If all goes as expected, the Kedah-born is likely to meet world No. 8 and top seed Rowan Elaraby of Egypt in the final.
Sivasangari, who has a bye in the first round, will face either compatriot Ainaa Amani or Egypt's world No. 69 Amina El Rihany in the second round.
Should she advance, the Malaysian is projected to play seventh seed Georgia Adderley of Scotland in the quarter-finals and potentially Egypt's third seed Farida Mohamed in the semi-finals.
National coach Ajaz Azmat said Sivasangari, who won the London Classic in April, is in high spirits and eager to reach the final.
"Sivasangari must perform consistently well in every match, as her main challenge will come from the Egyptian players," said Ajaz. - October 29, 2024
