Sivasangari, Anahat set for Asian Games dress rehearsal in London

Sivasangari and Anahat Singh are set to compete in the London Squash Classic quarter-finals today, potentially serving as a preview for the Asian Games final later in the month. The Malaysian world No. 5 took just 17 minutes to defeat Egypt's Nardine Garas 11-5, 11-5 in the second round. As the third-seeded participant, Sivasangari, who claimed victory in 2024, will face 18-year-old world junior champion Anahat Singh in the next round. Anahat, ranked 20th in the world, stunned Belgium's Nele Gilis 13-11, 4-11, 11-8 in 39 minutes.

The outcome of this match could provide insights into the men's and women's individual gold medalists' performance at the Asian Games, which commence on September 19 in Aichi-Nagoya. The gold medalists will qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The two players have met once before, at the British Open in 2023, where Sivasangari emerged victorious in four games.

Anahat, who expressed her preference for the best-of-five format, acknowledged the challenges of the best-of-three match, stating, "I honestly don't love it (the best-of-three format). You can't really prepare for it, but I had to be more focused than I would be in a best-of-five match." Despite this, Anahat is excited about playing in London, having been familiar with the venue through social media. The duo trains together in Prague, which adds a unique dynamic to their matches.