KUALA LUMPUR: The new season holds the promise of breakthroughs for squash players Ng Eain Yow and S. Sivasangari as they hope to break into the top 10 of the men's and women's PSA Tour rankings.
The duo will start their season at the Tournament of Champions in New York on Jan 17-25.
With aspirations to break into the world's top 10 this year, Sivasangari wants to do well in the TOC to set the tone.
The world No. 15, who received a first-round bye, will open her campaign against United States' Sabrina Sobhy, whom she defeated in the quarter-finals en route to winning the Hong Kong Football Club Open crown in November.
If the 25-year-old wins, she will likely take on world No. 7 Nour El Tayeb in the last eight.
In November, Sivasangari defeated Nour in the second round of the Singapore Open.National coach Ajaz Azmat said Sivasangari has a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals in New York.
"She defeated Sabrina and Nour last year, and I am confident she can repeat those feats. I hope she will start the new season on a high note," said Ajaz.
Two other Malaysians in the fray at the TOC are Aifa Azman and Rachel Arnold.
Rachel, a runner-up in the Malaysia Cup in November, will play Hong Kong's Tsz Wing Tong in the first round.
Meanwhile, national No.1 Eain Yow has a tricky men's draw.
The world No. 19 will open his campaign against world No. 55 Andrew Douglas of the US. If he wins, he will likely face world No. 2 and defending champion Diego Elias of Peru.
"Eain Yow has to start notching wins over top players to achieve his top-10 target. He has to work harder to establish himself as a top player."