Sivasangari, Aira bow out in Qatar Classic quarter-finals
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2025-10-02,KUALA LUMPUR:
World No. 7 S. Sivasangari and world No. 26 Aira Azman saw their Qatar Classic campaigns end in the quarter-finals in Doha yesterday.
Sivasangari fell 11-7, 11-8, 11-6 to Egypt's world No. 2 Hania El Hammamy in 34 minutes.
It was Hania's sixth win over the Malaysian in eight meetings.
Hania, fresh from her Egyptian Open triumph last month, will face compatriot and world No. 5 Amina Orfi in Friday's semi-finals.
Amina, a four-time world junior champion, overpowered Aira 11-4, 11-4, 11-9 in 34 minutes.
National coach Ajaz Azmat praised both players for reaching the last eight.
"Sivasangari started well in all three games against Hania but struggled to sustain it at the crucial points," he said.
"Aira did well too, but she could not cope with Amina's pace.
" Overall, Aira showed her standard by upsetting world No. 6 Satomi Watanabe in the previous round."
Ajaz also gave an update on Aifa Azman, who was forced to retire from her quarter-final against France's Melissa Alves on Tuesday after suffering a concussion.
"Aifa will return to Kuala Lumpur for health checks at the National Sports Institute (ISN) to assess her fitness for upcoming tournaments," he said.
World No. 41 Aifa is scheduled to compete in the Silicon Valley Open in San Francisco from Oct 11-15.