Sivasangari Makes History, Reaches PSA World Tour Finals

Malaysian squash star S. Sivasangari has etched her name in history by reaching the final of the PSA World Tour Finals in Paris, ending a 14-year drought for Malaysian representation in the championship match. The world No. 5 secured her spot by defeating world champion Nour El Sherbini of Egypt in a grueling semi-final.

Sivasangari triumphed over El Sherbini with a score of 8-11, 11-10, 11-8, 11-10 in a 74-minute battle. This victory marks her second consecutive win against the world No. 2, following her success in the Grasshopper Cup semi-finals in Zurich last April. The last Malaysian to reach the PSA World Tour Finals final was the legendary Datuk Nicol David in 2012, who went on to win the title.

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I had to maintain a positive attitude throughout the game and stay consistent with my strategy.

To emulate David's feat, Sivasangari faces a formidable challenge in the final against world No. 1 Hania El Hammamy, also from Egypt. The match is scheduled for early Sunday morning, Malaysian time. Reflecting on her semi-final win, Sivasangari acknowledged El Sherbini's high confidence and resilience. "I had to maintain a positive attitude throughout the game and stay consistent with my strategy," she stated.

Sivasangari, 27, has been striving for greater consistency after an up-and-down performance last year. She noted that while her game has improved this year, minor unforced errors still occur. She admitted a dislike for 'sudden death' situations, finding them pressure-inducing, but expressed relief at emerging victorious. With one final hurdle remaining, Sivasangari hopes to conclude her season on a high note.

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Sudden death situations only invite pressure into my game, and I am happy to have come out as the winner.