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Paul McNamara

Asia’s best squash player, Sivasangari Subramaniam, has spelled out her ambition to create one of the Olympic Games’ most astonishing stories at Los Angeles 2028.
Subramaniam, who is part of the Malaysia team pursuing World Squash Team Championships (WSTC) glory in Hong Kong this week, was given only a “50-50 chance of coming back to squash” following a serious car accident in 2022.
The 25-year-old suffered fractures to her face and the C1 vertebrae at the base of her skull.
“It was a very serious and dangerous neck fracture, close to my spine,” Subramaniam told the Post.
The world No 10 , who opted against surgery to allow the injury to heal naturally, has no recollection of the accident on a quiet highway in her homeland.












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A post shared by Sivasangari Subramaniam (@sivasangari_)



“I was unlucky, but also very lucky, it could have been worse,” she said. “I might not have been here, someone pulled us [Subramaniam and friend] out before the car caught fire.
“I was asleep … and woke up the next day in a hospital bed. I didn’t feel any pain, but they had put a neck collar on me, so I couldn’t turn my neck.
“I didn’t know where I was. I shouted for help and a nurse came to tell me I’d been in a car accident. I could hear the beep beep [of ECG monitor]. It was traumatising.
“Now, I don’t think about it much. It’s not easy to think about, I try to let it go … I’m in a better place.”
Subramaniam had been set to carry Malaysia’s flag at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She returned to the court in February 2023, and was given her country’s flag bearing honours at last year’s Asian Games, where she won individual and team gold.
“It was a huge honour to carry the flag, I was very grateful, because it showed people still had faith in me,” she added.
Subramaniam did not watch the 2022 WSTC, five months after her accident.
“I was still doing rehab and didn’t watch much squash,” she said. “I didn’t want to put more stress on myself, because I didn’t know if I would come back.”
A mass communication and media studies graduate from American Ivy League Cornell University, Subramaniam surrendered a two-game lead to lose to world No 7 Nele Coll in the second round of last week’s Hong Kong Squash Open.
“It was tough, I had one or two days off to regroup and reset,” said Subramaniam, who spent one of her down days at Hong Kong Disneyland.
For Malaysia to repeat their Asian team triumph on the global stage, they will probably have to find a way to overcome formidable defending champions Egypt, who have the world’s top three players in their contingent. Subramaniam beat both Nour El Sherbini and Hania El Hammamy, No 2 and No 3, respectively, to win April’s London Squash Classic.
“Beating a top player is a huge confidence booster, you feel you’re on their level,” Subramaniam said. “Everyone is beatable. Individually, Egypt are super strong, but it’s different in a team environment.”
Subramaniam’s main goals are to be world No 1, and to “win a first Olympic gold for Malaysia”, when squash makes its Games debut in LA.
“Malaysia has medals, but we’ve never won gold, so it’s a huge opportunity for me,” she said. “There is pressure, but I don’t think about that. I want to have fun and play.”
Subramaniam’s Malaysia cruised past Macau 3-0 in their opening WSTC match at Hong Kong Football Club on Monday, In the other Group E contest, France beat Ireland by the same scoreline. Hong Kong’s women began with 3-0 victories over Finland and Australia. The city’s men toppled Italy 3-0.


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Egypt’s squash rivals will need to work smarter to beat world’s best in LA, Crouin says

El Hammamy pays tribute to Nour El Sherbini, as imperious Egypt maintain world title quest

Hong Kong Squash Open

Malaysian squash star eyes historic Olympic quest after career-threatening neck fracture

Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysi in action during the semi-finals at the 2023 Asian Squash Championships. Photo: Panda Man

Hong Kong Squash Open: Gohar seals title and world No 1 spot with win, Farag falls short

Nouran Gohar (left) got the better of compatriot Nour El Sherbini in the women’s final of the Hong Kong Squash Open. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Ali Farag (front) came up short in his men’s final against Mostafa Asal. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Hong Kong ease past Mongolia to move step closer to East Asian Football Federation finals

Hong Kong’s Everton Camargo (left) fires a shot towards goal as Mongolia’s Munkhsaikhan Munkhkhuslen closes in at Mong Kok Stadium. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong’s Wong Wai scores against Mongolia. Photo: Sam Tsang

Sport

Hong Kong

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Asian Games champion Sivasangari Subramaniam in global top-10 and targeting world teams success after recovering from serious car accident


Asian Games champion Sivasangari Subramaniam in global top-10 and targeting world teams success after recovering from serious car accident.
