- CIMB supported Sivasangari’s progress through various developmental programmes.
- Sivasangari earned a full scholarship from CIMB in 2018, facilitating her studies at Cornell.
- CIMB’s initiatives aim to nurture high-potential athletes and elevate Malaysia’s sports profile.
On 14 March 2024, CIMB Group Holdings Berhad revealed the latest addition to its roster of sporting ambassadors: professional squash player Sivasangari Subramaniam. This move reaffirms CIMB’s dedication to nurturing local talent and bolstering sports development initiatives. The signing ceremony was attended by YB Hannah Yeoh, Minister of Youth & Sports, and Effendy Shahul Hamid, Chief Executive Officer of Group Consumer & Digital Banking at CIMB Group.
Comprehensive support system
CIMB Group has significantly influenced the career of Sivasangari, a talented squash player, through its extensive support initiatives. As a young athlete, Sivasangari benefited from the CIMB Junior Squash Development Programme starting in early 2009. This early engagement was further bolstered in 2018 when she received the CIMB Squash Academic Scholarship from the CIMB Foundation. This scholarship awarded her a full four-year tenure to pursue higher education.
“We are eager to play a role in the development of Malaysia’s sports industry in an effort to elevate our national status as a serious contender in squash especially in view of the inclusion of squash in the Los Angeles Olympics games in 2028,”said Effendy.
Educational and athletic excellence
This support allowed her to attend Cornell University in New York, where she not only achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications but also received top-level squash coaching, graduating with honours. YB Hannah Yeoh, reflecting on CIMB’s commitment, remarked on the importance of supporting high potential youth in sports, highlighting Sivasangari’s inclusion in the elite Road to Gold Programme Committee’s Fast Track programme as a testament to her achievements. Effendy further emphasised CIMB’s dedication to advancing Malaysia as a formidable contender in squash, particularly with the sport’s upcoming inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
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Sivasangari said, “I am humbled and honoured to be given the opportunity to partner with CIMB, a brand that is synonymous in playing an active role in supporting many of our great talents today. From the nascent phase of my career until now, CIMB has played an active role in the development of my professional journey. I am grateful to have been given the support to realise and advance my ambitions as a professional squash player, turning my passion into a rewarding career. I will continue to make Malaysia proud and I look forward to a rewarding partnership ahead with CIMB.”
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Inspiring future generations
The recent signing ceremony was not just a formality but also a motivational event that showcased participants from the CIMB Foundation’s current Junior Squash Development Programme. This gathering was aimed at inspiring the next cadre of athletes and hopeful youths, encouraging them to aspire to become future sports champions, thus continuing CIMB’s legacy of fostering talent and ambition in Malaysian sports.
