{
  "id": 851100,
  "title": "Sivasangari aims to book early Olympic ticket with Asiad gold",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/sivasangari-aims-to-book-early-olympic-ticket-with-asiad-gold",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-14T08:19:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/racquet-sports/2026/08/1511116/sivasangari-aims-book-early-olympic-ticket-asiad-gold"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "S. Sivasangari, a squash player from Malaysia, is poised to be the first Malaysian athlete to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, surpassing her badminton peers and other competitors. The Asian Games, scheduled to take place next month in Japan, could serve as the pivotal event for Sivasangari to secure a spot in the Olympic team. Winning the women's individual gold medal at the Asian Games would guarantee her entry into the 2028 Olympics, marking a historic moment for Malaysian sports.\n\nSivasangari, currently ranked world No. 5, possesses the talent and experience to achieve this feat. Having clinched the gold medal in the previous Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China, in 2022, she has demonstrated her capability to excel in high-stakes tournaments. Malaysia's lack of Olympic gold medals adds to the significance of this potential achievement, making it a dream come true for Sivasangari to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.\n\nExpressing her excitement, Sivasangari highlighted the Asian Games as the first step towards the Olympic dream, stating that the competition at this stage could provide her with the opportunity to secure the first ticket to the Olympics for Malaysia. She acknowledged the intense competition, noting that all athletes are performing at their best levels and striving for gold not just for their countries, but also for their chances in the Olympics.\n\nDespite the pressure, Sivasangari emphasized the importance of enjoying the sport and maintaining her focus on the task at hand. Her recent form, including victories at the Australian Open and Grasshopper Cup in Switzerland, along with her upset of world No. 2 Amina Orfi of Egypt, underscores her reliability as a contender. Other potential rivals include Japan's Satomi Watanabe, India's world junior champion Anahat Singh, and athletes from Hong Kong and Malaysia. Sivasangari's achievements in the past year, including winning the semi-finals of the Grasshopper Cup and PSA World Tour Finals, reinforce her status as a formidable competitor in the world of squash.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Squash player S. Sivasangari is set to be the first Malaysian, ahead of her badminton counterparts and others, to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics where the sport makes its debut.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}