Malaysian squash player Rachel Arnold advanced to the quarter-finals of the Qatar Classic on Monday, marking a significant milestone in her career as she secured her first appearance at the Platinum level in the sport. Arnold, ranked 25th globally, defeated world No. 3 Nour El Sherbini of Egypt in a four-game match lasting 43 minutes, with scores of 9-11, 11-7, 11-8, 12-10.

Prior to this encounter, Arnold had never won a game against the eight-time world champion Sherbini, making the victory a notable breakthrough. Arnold will next face England’s Jasmine Hutton for a spot in the semi-finals of the tournament.

Reflecting on her performance, the 30-year-old said the win was a major confidence booster ahead of the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya scheduled for next week. Arnold noted that she had “belief” in herself throughout the match and emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency and holding on to the lead, areas she identified as challenges in previous matches.

Arnold’s progress in Qatar signals momentum as she prepares to represent Malaysia in the continental multi-sport event, where she aims to build on her recent success and compete among Asia’s top athletes.