Malaysian squash player S. Sivasangari advanced to the quarter-finals of the Egyptian Open 2026 after defeating Belgium’s Nele Gilis in the third round, while compatriot Yasshmita Jadishkumar made headlines with an impressive run at the prestigious tournament in Cairo, Egypt.
Fourth-seeded Sivasangari defeated world No. 12 Gilis 11-5, 11-6, 11-8 in just 33 minutes on Monday, 12 October, to secure her place in the last eight. Meanwhile, Yasshmita produced a remarkable comeback victory against Egypt’s Farida Mohamed to reach the third round, marking a significant milestone in her professional squash journey.
Sivasangari Continues Strong Run In Egypt
Sivasangari delivered a commanding performance against Gilis, winning in straight games to continue her campaign at the Egyptian Open.
The Malaysian controlled the match from the opening game, winning 11-5 before extending her advantage with an 11-6 victory in the second. She then completed the match with an 11-8 win in the third game.
The victory also marked Sivasangari’s fourth consecutive win over Gilis, having previously defeated the Belgian at the Qatar Classic 2025, Windy City Open 2026 and Australian Open 2026.
Her progress comes after a successful period in which she secured the women’s singles gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games and qualified for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Sivasangari will next face Egypt’s Fayrouz Aboelkheir in the quarter-finals as she continues her pursuit of the Egyptian Open title.
Yasshmita Stages Remarkable Comeback To Reach Last 16
Meanwhile, Malaysian squash player Yasshmita Jadishkumar enjoyed a breakthrough campaign after earning a place in the main draw as a lucky loser following her elimination in the qualifying rounds.
Ranked world No. 62 at the time, Yasshmita took full advantage of the opportunity, defeating Egypt’s Mariam Metwally before recording a stunning comeback victory against world No. 20 Farida Mohamed.
Yasshmita recovered from losing the first two games to win 3-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9 in a 53-minute encounter, securing her place in the last 16.
The victory was particularly significant as she overcame a higher-ranked opponent on home soil, demonstrating her determination and ability to compete against established players on the professional circuit.
However, her impressive run came to an end in the third round, where she faced world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe of Japan. Despite the defeat, the tournament marked an important step forward in Yasshmita’s development and provided valuable experience against some of the sport’s leading players.
Her performance, alongside Sivasangari’s continued progress, highlighted the presence of Malaysian talent on the international squash stage at the Egyptian Open 2026.
Source: NST
