Thursday, March 28, 2024

Nicol David begins sixth year as WISPA No.1

Nicol David Begins Sixth Year As World Number One

Malaysia’s Nicol David begins her sixth year as world number one this month, according to the new January Women’s World Squash Rankings published today by the Women’s International Squash Players’ Association (WISPA).

The dominant force in women’s squash first topped the rankings in January 2006 – and, after dropping to second place for just four months in the year, is now celebrating her 57th month as world No1.

After her now regular early New Year training session in Melbourne with Australian legend Sarah Fitz-Gerald, 27-year-old David will return to World Tour action at the WISPA Gold Cleveland Classic in the USA on 30 January.

England’s Jenny Duncalf continues to shadow David in second place, ahead of fellow countrywomanAlison Waters at three, Egypt’s Omneya Abdel Kawy in fourth place, and Australia’s Rachael Grinham at No5.

But lower in the list, Annie Au celebrates a career-high No12 ranking – and becomes the highest-ranked player from Hong Kong of all-time, moving ahead of former Asian Games champion Rebecca Chiu, who reached a best-ever 13th place in October 2007.

Au, a 21-year-old student at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, scored her biggest Tour title last month, winning the $20,000 Seoul Open in South Korea.

Malaysian Low Wee Wern, who was runner-up in Seoul, also marks a career-best ranking this month – rising two places to No13. The 20-year-old from Penang followed her 11th WISPA Tour final appearance in Korea by reaching the last eight of the Punj Lloyd WISPA Masters in Delhi.

And Egyptian teenager Nour El Tayeb continues her relentless surge up the rankings by moving to a best-ever 17th place. The 17-year-old from Cairo jumped from outside the top 30 into the top twenty last month to become the youngest player in the elite list.

January top 20 (inc. points average):

1 [1] Nicol David MAS 3340
2 [2] Jenny Duncalf ENG 1706
3 [3] Alison Waters ENG 1480
4 [4] Omneya Abdel Kawy EGY 1292
5 [5] Rachael Grinham AUS 1166
6 [6] Madeline Perry IRL 997
7 [7] Kasey Brown AUS 936
8 [10] Camille Serme FRA 798
9 [8] Vanessa Atkinson NED 790
10 [9] Laura Massaro ENG 770
11 [11] Raneem El Weleily EGY 728
12 [14] Annie Au HKG 608
13 [15] Low Wee Wern MAS 558
14 [12] Jaclyn Hawkes NZL 542
15 [13] Samantha Teran MEX 512
16 [16] Donna Urquhart AUS 480
17 [19] Nour El Tayeb EGY 444
18 [17] Joelle King NZL 433
19 [18] Isabelle Stoehr FRA 387
20 [20] Engy Kheirallah EGY 382

For the complete WISPA ranking list, see www.wispa.net

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