Sivasangari Falls Short of Title but Ends PSA Finals With Historic Silver Medal
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s top women’s squash player, S. Sivasangari, came agonisingly close to emulating the achievements of national legend Nicol David after finishing runner-up at the prestigious Professional Squash Association (PSA) Finals in Paris.
The world No. 5 was defeated by Egypt’s world No. 1 Hania El Hammamy in the final, going down 6-11, 11-10, 8-11, 8-11 in a thrilling 53-minute encounter held early this morning.
Despite missing out on the championship title, Sivasangari’s silver medal represents the finest achievement of her professional career and marks an important milestone in Malaysia’s squash history.
The PSA Finals is regarded as one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments, featuring only the top eight players in the world based on their performances throughout the season.
For Sivasangari, reaching the final itself was already a remarkable accomplishment, proving that she now belongs among the elite players in world squash.
The final began with Hania asserting her dominance, using her trademark aggressive style and court coverage to claim the opening game 11-6.
However, Sivasangari refused to back down.
The Malaysian fought back strongly in the second game, displaying excellent composure and tactical awareness before edging out her Egyptian opponent 11-10 to level the match.
Her spirited comeback raised hopes of an upset and gave Malaysian fans reason to dream of another historic triumph on the world stage.
But Hania, who has been one of the most consistent players on the PSA Tour, regained control in the third and fourth games.
She capitalised on crucial moments and used her experience to seal both games 11-8, securing the title and denying Sivasangari her first PSA Finals crown.
Although disappointed with the result, Sivasangari leaves Paris with her reputation significantly enhanced.
Her journey to the final ended a 14-year wait for Malaysia to have a representative in the PSA Finals championship match.
The last Malaysian to win the tournament was Nicol David in 2012, during her era of dominance that saw her become one of the greatest squash players of all time.
Since Nicol’s retirement, Malaysia has searched for a player capable of carrying the nation’s hopes at the highest level.
Sivasangari now appears ready to embrace that responsibility.
The 27-year-old from Kedah has enjoyed a breakthrough season, steadily climbing the rankings and establishing herself as one of the most dangerous players on the PSA Tour.
Her campaign in 2025/2026 included title victories at the Australian Open and the Grasshopper Cup in Zurich, Switzerland.
She also recorded several notable wins over higher-ranked opponents, demonstrating significant improvements in consistency, fitness and mental strength.
Many observers believe her latest achievement is an encouraging sign ahead of squash’s inclusion at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
With her current world ranking and recent performances, Sivasangari is widely expected to be Malaysia’s biggest medal prospect when the sport makes its Olympic debut.
Analysts say that if she continues her upward trajectory and remains injury-free, she has every opportunity to challenge the world’s best players and create history on the Olympic stage.
For Malaysian squash, Sivasangari’s silver medal is more than just another podium finish.
It symbolises the resurgence of the sport in the country and signals the emergence of a player capable of carrying forward the legacy left by Nicol David.
While the elusive title slipped away this time, Sivasangari’s performance in Paris has shown that her greatest achievements may still lie ahead.
