KUALA LUMPUR: KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian No. 1 S. Sivasangari will be mentally tuned up for squash's British Open from June 2-9 in Birmingham by Jesse Engelbrecht.
South African Engelbrecht, 41, who is based in London, helped Sivasangari to win the prestigious London Classic title last month where she stunned Egypt's world No. 1 Nour El Sherbini and world No. 2 Hania El Hammamy and Belgium's world No. 4 Nele Gilis.
Asian champion Sivasangari, who received a first round bye in the British Open, will face world No. 1 and defending champion Sherbini in the second round.
National chief coach Ajaz Azmat said the expertise of mental trainer Engelbrecht will be a big boost for Sivasangari at the British Open.
"Sivasangari is physically in good shape as she has been training hard since the recent World Championships in Cairo.
"The British Open is the last major platinum event of this season. Sivasangari needs to be mentally strong on the court, and with the help of Jesse, I'm confident she will rise to the occasion."
If world No. 10 Sivasangari upsets Sherbini, the Kedahan will further improve her ranking.
However, Egyptian players have been a stumbling block for her in PSA tournaments, She lost to world No. 2 Nouran Gohar in the El Gouna Championships (second round) last month and to Hania in the recent World Championships (third round). The challenge for Sivasangari at the British Open is to turn the tables on the Egyptians.
But she will also need to be wary of the local threats in Birmingham. Last year at the British Open, Sivasangari lost to England's Sarah Jane Perry in the second round.