National squash ace S.Sivasangari kept Malaysia’s hopes alive at the prestigious Egyptian Open 2025, advancing to the third round in Giza to emerge as the country’s sole representative in the tournament.
The seventh seed produced a commanding performance against Egypt’s Nour Heikal, sealing a straight-game victory 13-11, 11-9, 11-5 in just 29 minutes. With this win, the 26-year-old moves one step closer to her first major semifinal appearance of the season.
Sivasangari will next face England’s Jasmine Hutton, who advanced after defeating compatriot Grace Gear 11-3, 11-5, 11-7. The highly anticipated clash is set to test Sivasangari’s consistency and tactical play against an opponent known for her relentless pace.
While Sivasangari celebrated her triumph, it was a day of disappointment for the rest of the Malaysian contingent. World No.19 Rachel Arnold fell short against Egypt’s Salma Hany, extending her losing streak to five matches against the world No.15, after a hard-fought four-set battle ( 5,11, 11-2, 4-11, 15-17).
Any hopes of an all-Malaysian third-round showdown ended as rising star Aira Azman succumbed to world No.3 Hania El Hammamy. Despite flashes of brilliance, Aira was overpowered in three straight sets, 9-11,9-11,5-11. On the men’s side, national No.1 Eain Yow lost to Egypt’s Kareem El Torkey, after clinching the opening game 11-8.
The Egyptian Open staged against the stunning backdrop of the Great Pyramids of Giza, has long been a proving ground for the world’s best squash players. With three Malaysians exiting early, Sivasangari now shoulders the nation’s hopes for a deep run in one of the sport’s most iconic tournaments.
Sources: Bernama
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