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Local squash champ focused on top 30 world ranking

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Sivasangari wants to savour playing in a few tournaments and concentrate on her studies before going full time into squash. Photo: Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: National squash champion, S Sivasangari, would like to break into the top 30 world rankings by the end of the season.

However, the player ranked number 50 in the world and currently on a break from her studies at Cornell University in the United States, said she isn’t putting too much pressure on herself to achieve it.

Instead, she wants to savour playing in a few tournaments like the WSF World Doubles Championships and Australian Open (in June and July respectively).

“Obviously I did not play many tournaments this season because I was more focused on my studies. Winning the racquet club pro-series title in the US last month gave me a little strength not to give up.

“There are a few tournaments in the US in August and hopefully I will get positive results from there to improve my ranking,” she told Bernama.

Sivasangari wants to savour playing in a few tournaments and concentrate on her studies before going full time into squash. Photo: Bernama

The 2018 Professional Squash Association (PSA) Women’s Young Player of the Year and CIMB Foundation beneficiary trains under Australian former world number one and two-time world champion, David Palmer.

She confessed it has been tough putting up a good performance because she has to juggle her studies and training, adding, “I do not want to put much intensity on the training”.

“It’s a different type of training from Malaysia, but I have to have mental strength, because if I fail, it would affect my studies,” she revealed.

On filling Datuk Nicol David’s big shoes after the former world number one and eight-time world squash champion announced her retirement, Sivasangari said: “Many people are waiting to see who replaces Nicol, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself; I have to balance studying and training. Once I go full-time, then I will go all out for my career,” said the 20-year-old Kedahan. – Bernama

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