Power Shifts in S'pore Squash

Liang dethrones 7-time defending champion Kang, claims first national men's singles title

- Melvyn Teoh

The city of Ithaca, New York, may not be renowned for metalworks, but as far as national squash player Aaron Liang is concerned, it is where iron sharpens iron.

It was where the Singaporean attained a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and received an invaluable education on the squash courts.

Australia's former world No. 1 David Palmer was his coach, while India's former Asian junior champion Veer Chotrani and Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam, the current women's world No. 8, were among his teammates.

The stint, which also saw Liang play in the inter-collegiate league, has evidently lifted his game.

After returning home upon graduating in May 2025, the 24-year-old won the men's open in the Aug 11-16 Marigold Singapore Squash Championships.

In the Aug 16 final, he earned his maiden title with a comeback 7-11, 11-8, 12-10, 11-4 win over top seed Jerome Aw at the Kallang Squash Centre, where Au Yeong Wai Yhann clinched her eighth consecutive women's open title by beating Ong Zhe Sim 11-8, 11-4, 12-10 in the final.

"I can't believe this, I've finally done it," said Liang, who dethroned eight-time national champion Samuel Kang 11-9, 14-12, 11-7 in the semi-finals on Aug 15.