Malaysia’s squash legacy has come far since the retirement of the legendary Datuk Nicol David. On April 2, 2024, at the young age of 25, Sivasangari Subramaniam emerged victorious in the GillenMarkets London Classic Squash Classic after defeating not one, but three world champions, solidifying her status as a Malaysian gold medalist—a feat last achieved by Nicol David in 2015.
In an intense 81-minute match, Sivasangari triumphed over the world’s top-ranked players, including Egypt’s World No. 1, Nour El Sherbini, the World No. 2, Hania, and the World No. 4, Nele Gilis. With this remarkable success, the future of Malaysian Squash appears promising under the capable leadership of Sivasangari.
In honour of her achievement, let us delve into the fascinating life story of this star hailing from Kedah. From graduating from an Ivy League School, to surviving a car crash in 2023, there’s no doubt Sivasangari is a shining example of Malaysia’s athletic prowess.
Professional player since 8
Sivasangari started her squash career at the tender age of eight, competing alongside her elder brother. Engaging in various tournaments and competitions, she swiftly ascended in the arena of squash. Sivasangari had also explored a range of sports including taekwondo, badminton, before developing a strong passion for squash.
Becoming Cornell’s champion
In 2019, she moved to the United States at 20 years old to attend Cornell University, an Ivy League School. Despite initial doubts, she chose to join the school after discovering its prestigious squash team and coach. Balancing matches, practices, and her Bachelor of Science in Communications studies, she honed her skills and gained recognition. Notable achievements include being the Ramsay Cup runner-up and winning the CSA National Collegiate Individual Championships. She acknowledged her coach and mentor, David Palmer, the Cornell Squash Coach during her time at the university.
More awards and achievements
Sivasangari’s career soared to global fame when she achieved her first gold victory at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2015. She even earned a gold medal at the SEA Games in 2017 and a silver at the Asian Games in 2018. She also ranked as the 38th player in the Professional Squash Association World Rankings and honoured as the 2018 PSA Young Player of the Year.
Rest and rebound
In June 2022, Sivasangari encountered a stroke of bad luck when she had to withdraw from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games due to a serious car accident. She suffered fractures on her face and C1 vertebra. After undergoing surgeries, she took a break for a few months to allow her injuries to heal naturally.
However, she made a remarkable comeback when she was chosen as the flag bearer for the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games. She shared this honour with national track cyclist Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom. Not only that, she also achieved great success by winning two gold medals in the individual category and the women’s team event at the Asian Games. This once again brought Malaysia to the forefront of the sports world.
The 2024 London Classic
In 2024, she achieved a new level of success by defeating world champions Nour El Sherbini, Hania El Hammamy, and Nele Gilis. In 2024, she further redefined what success really meant when she triumphed over world’s champion Nour El Sherbini, Hania El Hammamy and Nele Gilis. Datuk Nicol David herself congratulated Sivasangari on her impressive performance in the London Classic squash tournament, “Awesome fight!! Congratulations on reaching the finals, @sivasangari.”
