Latest news with #Satomi
New Straits Times
26-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sivasangari bows out of PSA Tour Finals without a win
KUALA LUMPUR: S. Sivasangari bowed out of the PSA Squash Tour Finals in Toronto without a win, losing all three of her Group B matches. The world No. 8, who lifted the Cincinnati Cup title in February, suffered her third straight defeat on Wednesday, going down 8-11, 11-9, 11-7 to world No. 7 Satomi Watanabe of Japan. It was Sivasangari's first loss to Satomi in seven PSA Tour meetings, and the result saw her finish bottom of the group. She had earlier lost to world No. 4 Olivia Weaver of the United States and world No. 14 Fayrouz Aboelkheir of Egypt. National coach Ajaz Azmat said Sivasangari started well by taking the opening game against Satomi but couldn't maintain her momentum. "Sivasangari gave her best, but she just couldn't find the points to win the match," said Ajaz. "She'll now have two months to rest and regroup before the new season starts in September." Satomi, who became the first Japanese player to reach the Tour Finals semi-finals, praised her opponent's spirit. "All credit to Sivasangari, she showed her fighting spirit right until the end," said Satomi. "It's tough to stay motivated once you know your qualification chances are slim, but she still turned up for the final game. "I knew the second game was crucial. I was down 6-3 and really happy to turn it around." Satomi will face Group A winner and world No. 1 Nouran Gohar of Egypt in the semi-finals, while Weaver takes on world No. 10 Georgina Kennedy of England in the other last-four clash.
New Straits Times
08-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
A chance for Rachel to capture Asian crown
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Rachel Arnold has suddenly found herself presented with the opportunity to become Asian squash champion. This is due to the last-minute withdrawals of Japan's world No. 7 Satomi Watanabe of Japan and Rachel's compatriot, S. Sivasangari (world No. 9). In their absences, world No. 19 Rachel has been promoted to the top seeding in the Asian meet from June 17-21 in Kuala Lumpur. Satomi was supposed to be the top seed and Sivasangari, second. Satomi and Sivasangari have opted to play in the PSA Tour Finals in Toronto, Canada from June 23-27. Rachel, 29, who won the China Open last November, will be looking to win her first Asian title after finishing second to Hong Kong's Tong Tsz Wing in 2021 in Islamabad. Barring any upset, Rachel is expected to face compatriot and second seed Aira Azman in the Asian final. Malaysia's Ng Eain Yow, who is top seeded in the men's category, will be eyeing his third consecutive Asian title after winning in Islamabad (2021) and Hong Kong (2023). World No. 11 Eain Yow is expected to face world No. 23 Abdulla Al-Tamimi of Qatar in the final.
![Sivasangari cruises into maiden British Open quarter-finals [WATCH]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2FSIVA_1748996849.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
New Straits Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Sivasangari cruises into maiden British Open quarter-finals [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: S. Sivasangari marched into the quarter finals of the British Open for the first time following an impressive display against Japan's Satomi Watanabe in Birmingham on Tuesday. World No. 9 Sivasangari, appearing in her fifth British Open, defeated world No. 7 Satomi 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-4 in 45 minutes. The 26-year-old Malaysian had never lost to Watanabe in all six previous meetings on the PSA Tour as well as defeating the Japan No.1 in the semi-finals of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. "It feels great reaching the quarter finals of the British Open," Sivasangari told PSA Squash Tour. "I think last year I got eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini in the first round, and that was a pretty tough draw. "Satomi has been playing really well recently, and we've played each other since we were in juniors, we're the same age, and she's a good friend as well. ""Today, I'm really happy with my performance. I focused on my game and on making it further in Platinum events." Facing the Malaysian, who won the Cincinnati Open in February, in the quarter-final is No.4 seed Amina Orfi, after the Egyptian avenged a painful defeat to Nada Abbas at this year's World Championships with a convincing 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 win over her compatriot. Amina beat Sivasangari in the Malaysia Cup final and Singapore Open semi-finals last November.
New Straits Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Sivasangari cruises into maiden British Open quarter-finals
KUALA LUMPUR: S. Sivasangari marched into the quarter finals of the British Open for the first time following an impressive display against Japan's Satomi Watanabe in Birmingham on Tuesday. World No. 9 Sivasangari, appearing in her fifth British Open, defeated world No. 7 Satomi 11-9, 11-9, 4-11, 11-4 in 45 minutes. The 26-year-old Malaysian had never lost to Watanabe in all six previous meetings on the PSA Tour as well as defeating the Japan No.1 in the semi-finals of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. "It feels great reaching the quarter finals of the British Open," Sivasangari told PSA Squash Tour. "I think last year I got eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini in the first round, and that was a pretty tough draw. "Satomi has been playing really well recently, and we've played each other since we were in juniors, we're the same age, and she's a good friend as well. ""Today, I'm really happy with my performance. I focused on my game and on making it further in Platinum events." Facing the Malaysian, who won the Cincinnati Open in February, in the quarter-final is No.4 seed Amina Orfi, after the Egyptian avenged a painful defeat to Nada Abbas at this year's World Championships with a convincing 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 win over her compatriot. Amina beat Sivasangari in the Malaysia Cup final and Singapore Open semi-finals last November.
New Straits Times
02-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sivasangari survives scare to reach British Open third round
KUALA LUMPUR: Asian champion S. Sivasangari is through to the third round of the British Open, but only after a stern test from India's rising star Anahat Singh in Birmingham on Monday. The world No. 9 Malaysian, who received a first-round bye, was made to work hard before finally subduing world No. 57 Anahat 12-10, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 in a 45-minute battle. She will now face Japan's world No. 7 Satomi Watanabe on Tuesday for a place in the quarter-finals. Satomi, a finalist at last month's Palm Hills Open in Egypt, breezed through her second-round match, needing just 20 minutes to dispatch France's Melissa Alves 11-8, 11-5, 11-1. The clash between Asia's top two stars promises to be a fierce contest, with Satomi holding a slight edge after defeating Sivasangari at the World Team Championships in Hong Kong in December. National coach Ajaz Azmat said it was a solid start for the Malaysian, but warned that the scare from Anahat should serve as a wake-up call. "Anahat really gave Sivasangari some anxious moments," said Ajaz. "She took a 10-8 lead in the first game, and although Sivasangari clawed her way back, she had to dig deep after dropping the second. "A win is a win, and now she'll turn her focus to the next challenge." Looking ahead, Ajaz admitted the match against Satomi will be a major test. "Satomi has been in excellent form lately. Sivasangari will have to be at her absolute best to book her place in the quarter-finals," he said.
