On 1 April, Sivasangari Subramaniam triumphed over Egypt’s Hania El Hammamy, the World No. 2, securing her inaugural PSA World Tour Gold-level championship.
In a gripping final at the 2024 London Squash Classics, Subramaniam overcame Hammamy in a five-game match.
A deserving champion
El Hammamy, after defeating her strong competitor, World No.3 Nouran Gohar, in the semi-final, managed to fend off match points to bring the game to a fifth set.
However, she couldn’t match the relentless speed and precise accuracy of the Malaysian player.
Subramaniam’s victory marked her as the first Malaysian to clinch a Gold-level or higher tournament since Nicol David’s triumph at the 2015 Hong Kong Open. She secured her win with scores of 11-9, 5-11, 13-11, 12-14, 11-8, over a span of 81 minutes.
Throughout the week in London, the 25-year-old athlete has been sensational, defeating the World No. 1 and seven-time world champion, Nour El Sherbini of Egypt, in the quarterfinals, and decisively beating World No. 4, Nele Gilis of Belgium, in the semifinals.
Her remarkable performance at the London Classic propelled her three spots up the rankings, reaching a career-best World No. 13 in the PSA Tour World rankings.
“I’m proud of my achievement!”
Reflecting on her victory, Subramaniam shared her elation at overcoming three of the top four players, acknowledging the caliber of her competition.
“The significance is immense. I previously exited a Gold event in the quarter-finals, so just reaching the final was an exhilarating experience. Winning the tournament this time, I’m incredibly satisfied and proud of my achievement,” she remarked.
Subramaniam extended her gratitude towards her coaches and sponsors, attributing her success to their support. She expressed immense pride in her journey, especially following a severe car accident two years prior that resulted in a fractured C1 vertebra.
