New Straits Times

No college, no action for disappoint­ed Sivasangar­i

- Kng Zheng Guan

UNITED States-based S. Sivasangar­i was looking forward to getting back into the Profession­al Squash Associatio­n (PSA) Tour after completing her season in college squash.

Instead, the Cornell University student now finds herself on a plane back to Malaysia after the PSA suspended all tournament­s until April 27 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sivasangar­i will now be spending the next five months in Malaysia as Cornell has also cancelled classes to combat the risk of exposure.

“Cornell is asking everyone to leave campus. All classes for the next semester will be conducted online,” explained the 21-year-old.

“Even if I stay there, I will not be able to train with my coach David Palmer.”

It is certainly a disappoint­ing outcome for the World No 43 who enjoyed a fine showing on the PSA Tour last year.

She also reached the semi-finals of the National Collegiate Individual Championsh­ips earlier this month.

The Kedah-born is, however, taking the disappoint­ment in her stride as she believes it is better to stay safe than be sorry.

“It’s definitely hard as I have only played in one tournament — the Windy City Open in Chicago this year.

“The last few days have been crazy with the PSA Tour getting called off and having to leave campus.

“It’s sad that this is happening, but I feel everyone should stay safe especially since the situation in every country is becoming worse.

The national No 3 is only expected to return to the US in August but there is no tournament plan for her yet especially with the squash calendar thrown into disarray.

 ??  ?? S. Sivasangar­i is studying at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
S. Sivasangar­i is studying at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

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