HANGZHOU: The inspirational story behind S. Sivasangari's remarkable return to competitive squash is not just for athletes but for every Malaysian.
Last year, after a horrific road accident, the 24-year-old not only missed the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games but also faced uncertainty about her entire career.
Fast forward to the Hangzhou Asian Games, Sivasangari emerged from adversity like a phoenix, putting that dark chapter of her life behind her.
As the flag bearer for the national contingent, Sivasangari astounded everyone by achieving a double victory, securing gold for the country in both the women's team and singles events.
The Sungai Petani-born admitted that her past experience has molded her into becoming a much stronger person and is one of the main factors for her explosive performance here at the Asiad.
"I always remind myself that if I can come back from what happened last year (the accident), I can conquer anything.
"This journey has been an unexpected one because I never imagined winning two gold medals after what I went through.
"There's a reason for everything, and I view this as a second chance for me. I'm delighted to be back," said Sivasangari.
At the previous edition in Jakarta-Palembang, the world No. 37 took the silver in the women's singles event, losing the gold to Nicol David and settled for bronze in the team event.