KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's two Asian champions S. Sivasangari and Ng Eain Yow need to work harder and be mentally tougher following their elimination in the third round of the World Squash Championships in Cairo on Tuesday.
Sivasangari, 25, went down 15-13, 11-6, 11-5 in 44 minutes to Egypt's Hania El Hammamy. She could not repeat her win over the world No. 3 in the London Classic final last month.
German Open winner Eain Yow, who reached the third round for the first time in the World Championships, was ousted by world No. 2 Paul Coll 11-9, 11-4, 11-6 in 39 minutes. It was Eain Yow's third defeat to the Kiwi in four meetings.
National chief coach Ajaz Azmat said Sivasangari was leading 10-8 and needed only a point to win the first set but she blew it by hitting the ball into the tin.
"She allowed Hania to come back and win the set. This shows that Sivasangari was mentally not strong enough to get a point at the crucial stage. She also should have been more patient at the stage.
"If Sivasangari had won the set, the pressure would have been on her opponent. Hania, instead, became more confident in the next two sets.
"Sivasangari just couldn't keep up the pressure and lost the next two sets. She needs to work on her mental strength and learn how to handle her game during the crucial stage," said the Pakistani coach.
Ajaz said Eain Yow played well but Coll was just too strong on the court. "Coll is one of the fittest and toughest players to beat. He has been playing consistently well in Platinum-level tournaments.
"Coll's level of playing is much higher and Eain Yow needs to work twice harder in training. He also needs to focus on his mental strength.
"Eain Yow should keep believing in himself that he can get the better of players like Coll in tournaments."