Hangzhou, China, October 5, 2023: Malaysia’s S. Sivasangari continued her comeback from a serious road accident last June to win gold at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Thursday, claiming the women’s squash title with victory over Chan Sin-yuk of Hong Kong, China.
The 24-year-old fought her way to a 3-2 success in a contest that lasted more than an hour at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Squash Court, eventually emerging triumphant by winning the final game 11-9 in a nail-biting clash that swung back and forth throughout.
“It’s very emotional and I’m just happy to be winning,” said Sivasangari, who had already helped Malaysia to the team title on Saturday. “I don’t think anyone would have expected me to be winning two gold medals after a year and a few months.
“I honestly only started playing well after maybe April or May, before that I was struggling and had a lot of challenges to go through.
“I can’t believe it at this moment but I’ve worked really hard during the summer, mentally, physically, emotionally trying to get back to where I was before and I’m just thankful to god that I’m back.”
Sivasangari sustained head and spinal injuries in a car crash in Kuala Lumpur last year, ruling her out of the Commonwealth Games and facilitating a lengthy rehabilitation programme to ensure she was capable of reaching previous heights.
She showed considerable determination to prevail against Chan, who won the first game and was dominating the deciding fifth before Sivasangari fought back to seal her first Asian Games individual title.
“It’s very special to me,” she said. “I remember at the last Asian Games in Indonesia I won a bronze and a silver medal, so to upgrade both the medals this time is ridiculous, it’s crazy and I’m just very grateful for my team.
“Every time I win a point, every time I lose a point I look back and they are believing in me and supporting me throughout the whole match, even when I’m down. This is what I dream of and hard work pays off. I’m proud of myself.
“I think it took a lot of courage to fight back in the fifth set. I was down all the way. It’s crazy, I cannot express my feelings until now.”
Sivasangari’s team mate Ng Eain Yow made it an evening to remember for the Southeast Asian nation as he claimed the men’s title, winning 3-1 against India’s Saurav Ghosal in the final.
Indian duo Dipika Pallikal Karthik and Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu took gold in the mixed doubles, handing Malaysia’s Aifa Binti Azman and Mohammad Syafiq Kamal a 2-0 defeat.