Sivasangari also advances in Doha after Rachel's heroics

KUALA LUMPUR: While her compatriot Rachel Arnold had to beat an eight-time world champion to reach the next round, S. Sivasangari advanced to the Qatar Classic semi-finals in Doha without much fanfare on Tuesday.

In fact, world No. 5 Sivasangari didn't have to lift her racquet as her opponent, Tinne Gilis of Belgium, gave a walkover.

Gilis couldn't play due to a knee injury suffered in the five-game encounter against India's Anahat Singh in the second round.

For the 27-year-old Sivasangari, she has advanced into her first ever Platinum-level tournament semi-finals on the international tour.

Sivasangari will next face Egypt's world No. 1 Hania El Hammamy who also got a walkover from her injured compatriot Nouran Gohar.

However, Sivasangari faces an uphill task against Hania, having only beaten the Egyptian twice in 11 meetings. In their last meeting, the PSA Tour Finals in Paris in June, Hania defeated Sivasangari in four games.

National coach Ajaz Azmat said Sivasangari last beat Hania in the London Classic final in 2024.

"Sivasangari is playing well and we are confident she will give Hania a real good challenge this time," said Ajaz.

Earlier, Sivasangari's national teammate, Rachel, who is ranked world No. 25, defeated Egypt's eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10 in the second-round. Rachel will play England's world No. 12 Jasmine Hutton in the quarter-finals.

For the Malaysian contingent, Sivasangari and Rachel's remarkable run in Qatar indicates they are on course for a golden outing at the Achi-Nagoya Asian Games which begin on Saturday.