KUALA LUMPUR – Deepavali is traditionally a time for families to come together, but for high-performance athletes like national squash player S. Sivasangari, some sacrifices have to be made.
This year, she won’t be home celebrating the Festival of Lights with her family as she will be on the road to Singapore for the Singapore Squash Open 2023, taking place on November 14-19.
She admits to not being thrilled about being away from family on this special occasion but realises it is a sacrifice she must make to live out her dreams of being a national squash player.
Before departing for the Lion City today, she managed to spend some valuable time with her family, reminiscing about last year’s celebrations.
“I did spend time with my family before heading to Singapore and I got to celebrate with them last year which was great.
“I’m blessed to be playing squash for the country and this is the sacrifice that I have to make.
“I’m not sad but I’m also not happy, I’m just grateful having the chance to live my dreams of playing squash,” she told Scoop when contacted.
Sivasangari is known for her prowess on the squash court, having won numerous international tournaments, recently shining brightly at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games – bringing home two gold medals for Malaysia.
She was given recognition for her achievements yesterday when she received the Special Award at the National Premier Youth Awards, organised by the Youth and Sports Ministry.
The award came with an RM10,000 cash prize, a trophy and a certificate.
The 24-year-old said the award meant a lot to her, especially on the eve of Deepavali.
“This award will motivate me to do better in my squash career.
“I’m happy to win this award and after all that I have been through I feel like my efforts are appreciated,” she said.
Last year, the Sungai Petani-born Sivasangari almost lost her life in a car crash.
She was a passenger in a vehicle which had rear-ended a lorry along the Maju Expressway. She was rescued from the car wreck before it caught fire.
She sustained severe injuries to her head and was rushed to the Putrajaya Hospital where she had to undergo immediate surgery.
It was later revealed that she had also sustained an injury to her spine.
Unfortunately for the star athlete, the crash and injuries ruled her out of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
However, her recovery and triumphant return to the courts was compounded by the double gold in Hangzhou, making her story even more inspirational.
“Just follow your dreams, we all have dreams. Don’t be afraid of anything.
“It does not matter if you are into sports or studies, if you put in the hard work you will get the results.
“For me being disciplined in wanting to reach my goals has served me well,” she added. – November 12, 2023
