KUALA LUMPUR: Everything seems to be going right for women's national No 1 S. Sivasangari.
The Kedahan, who has been flying high on the Professional Squash Association Tour with some strong performances of late, added another feather to her cap when she was named the Ivy League Women's Player of the Year.
World No 26 Sivasangari is a final year student at Cornell University. The award came after the 23-year-old chalked up an unbeaten 12-0 record in the regular College Squash Association season. She also made it into the All-Ivy League team alongside fellow Malaysian Lai Wen Li.
"This award means a lot to me since it's the first time I'm getting it and it's also the first time I won all my matches in the season," said Sivasangari.
"It's also a huge shoutout to my coaches here - David Palmer and Mark Burke - as well as the Cornell team for always being there for me and supporting me.
"It's a sort of an icing on the cake for my college career but it's not the end yet as I still want to win the CSA individual tournament which is coming up in two weeks' time," added Sivasangari who was runner-up in the 2020 season.
Meanwhile she is seeing action in the ongoing Squash on Fire Open in Washington. Sivasangari, who reached the semi-finals of the Cincinnati Cup earlier this month, was off to a flying start with an 11-3, 11-8, 16-14 win over Latvia's Ineta Mackevica in the first round.
She goes on to face Canada's world No 20 Danielle Letourneau in the second round.
"It was always a tricky match as I've never played Ineta, so it's always tough facing someone for the first time," said Sivasangari.
On her next match, she said: "Danielle is a really good player who has improved a lot over the past few years, so I am expecting another tough encounter."
Also through to the second round are Aifa Azman and Rachel Arnold. Aifa downed England's Jasmine Hutton 11-4, 11-7, 11-9 and faces second seed Joelle King of New Zealand next while Rachel defeated Australia's Donna Lobban 11-6, 11-6, 11-5 and goes up against seventh seed Hollie Naughton of Canada.
In the men's event, national No 2 Ivan Yuen bowed out after losing 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 to England's George Parker.