Two HK men in top 20 for first time
By NATHAN CLARKE
Hong Kong will have two male players in the top 20 of the PSA Men’s World Rankings for the first time ever this month ever after 28-year-old Leo Au rose a place to sit behind compatriot Max Lee, who currently occupies the World No.19 spot.
Au claimed two PSA World Tour titles throughout the 2017-18 season with wins at the HKFC International on home soil and the Malaysian Open and his ranking of World No.20 is a career-high.
Egypt’s Mohamed ElShorbagy celebrates his 33rd month at the summit of the World Rankings – which brings him level with the legendary Amr Shabana as the longest-reigning Egyptian World No.1 – and is one of four Egyptians residing in the top five ahead of compatriots Ali Farag, younger brother Marwan, Tarek Momen and Germany’s Simon Rösner.
The rest of the top 10 is unchanged, with Colombian Miguel Angel Rodriguez (No.6), France’s Gregory Gaultier (No.7), Karim Abdel Gawad (No.8), Ramy Ashour (No.9) and Paul Coll retaining their places inside the top 10.
Peru’s Diego Elias and India’s Saurav Ghosal hover outside of the top 10 while the retirement of former World No.1 Nick Matthew means that the rest of the top 20 all move up a place.
Egypt’s Omar Mosaad rises to No.14, his highest ranking in 16 months, while Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly moves back into the top 15.
Lower down the rankings, New Zealand’s Gabe Yam is the biggest mover after rising 141 places to 389, while compatriot Lwamba Chileshe also enjoyed a big rise in the rankings, moving up 134 spots to 331.
PSA Men’s World Rankings Top 20: July 2018.
Picture by BRYAN MITCHELL (Motor City Open). Graphic courtesy of PSA