Sivasangari pushes Hania to the limit before bowing out

KUALA LUMPUR: Renowned badminton player S. Sivasangari pushed world No. 2 Hania El Hammamy to her limits, but the Malaysian fell short in the Egyptian Open semi-finals, suffering yet another heartbreaking 12-10 defeat in the deciding game. The world No. 4 fought for 86 minutes before succumbing to the defending champion in Cairo, missing out on a final appearance for the second time in her career.

This was the second time in two months that Sivasangari had taken Hania to a crucial game in a major semi-final, only to lose 12-10. The Malaysian had previously faced a similar heartbreak against the Egyptian at the Qatar Classic in September. Sivasangari's 11th defeat in 13 meetings with the Egyptian was noted by Hania, who admitted it was becoming increasingly challenging to overcome her opponent.

The 26-year-old Egyptian praised Sivasangari's mental and tactical prowess, stating she was now pushing her hard all the way to the fourth and fifth games. Hania, a fighter, vowed to give her all on court, even in defeat. National coach Ajaz Azmat felt Sivasangari had chances to turn the match in her favor, particularly in the third game, where she led 10-8 before losing 12-10.

He expressed satisfaction with Sivasangari's performance, noting it was her first semi-final appearance at a Diamond-level tournament. Sivasangari will next compete in the Silicon Valley Open in the United States from Oct 20-24.