PARIS – Malaysia’s top squash player has made a brilliant start at the season-ending championship. Specifically, national ace S. Sivasangari charged into the semi-finals of the prestigious PSA Squash Tour Finals on Wednesday night. The fourth-seeded Malaysian delivered a flawless performance to defeat Japan’s Satomi Watanabe at the Centquatre-Paris venue in France. Sivasangari controlled the court from the very beginning to secure a straight-sets victory.
Straight-Sets Victory in the PSA Squash Tour Finals
The high-stakes match showed Sivasangari’s elite form and sharp mental focus. For instance, she took down her opponent with a tight 11-9, 11-6, 11-9 scoreline. The entire high-intensity battle lasted just 35 minutes. Sivasangari was initially scheduled to play American world number four Olivia Weaver in the opening round. However, Weaver had to pull out of the tournament due to a sudden injury. Because of that layout shift, Watanabe stepped in to set up the all-Asian clash.
Furthermore, this triumph extends Sivasangari’s absolute dominance over her familiar regional rival. She has now successfully won eight out of her nine career meetings against the Japanese fifth seed. Watanabe’s only victory against the Malaysian came during last year’s edition of the same tournament. This year, the championship uses a direct knockout system right from the first round. Therefore, winning this single match earned Sivasangari an immediate ticket to the final four.
Tough Egyptian Battle Next in the PSA Squash Tour Finals
The road ahead gets much tougher for the 27-year-old Kedah-born athlete. Waiting for Sivasangari in the next stage of the PSA Squash Tour Finals is world number two and top seed Amina Orfi of Egypt. The reigning world champion confirmed her own semi-final spot earlier in the evening. Orfi fought hard to defeat eighth seed Tinne Gilis of Belgium in a tense four-set battle.
Meanwhile, Malaysian national coach Ajaz Azmat expressed immense confidence in Sivasangari’s physical readiness. Before arriving in Paris, she spent weeks training in Prague under the guidance of former world champion Gregory Gaultier. This elite European preparation helped her move past her tough outing from last year’s event in Canada. The highly anticipated semi-final clash will take place early Saturday morning, Malaysia time. Local fans are eager to see if she can pull off a massive upset in the PSA Squash Tour Finals.
