Raneem stays top as Laura leapfrogs Nicol David
By NATHAN CLARKE – Squash Mad Reporter
Egyptian Raneem El Welily has maintained her grasp on the Women’s World No.1 ranking for a fourth consecutive month to top the December 2015 PSA Women’s World Rankings, but the 26-year-old now finds herself in a three-way battle to occupy the No.1 slot come January 1st.
England’s Laura Massaro (right) has been the in-form player so far this season, claiming back-to-back PSA World Series titles, at the Delaware Investments U.S. Open and Qatar Classic, which has seen her leapfrog Nicol David to occupy the No.2 spot and close to within 300 points of El Welily.
Both El Welily and David, who at No.3 is at her lowest ranking since 2005, have struggled to find any consistent form this year and have failed to reach beyond the semi-finals of a major World Series tournament.
And, with the Cathay Pacific Sung Hung Kai Financial Hong Kong Open getting under way today, the trio find themselves embroiled in a compelling battle to hold the coveted No.1 spot come January 1st.
Elsewhere inside the top 20, Indian player Joshna Chinappa, who downed El Welily in the first round of the Qatar Classic, moves up four places to a new career best World No.13 while former World No.2 Jenny Duncalf’s recent resurgence continues as she climbs seven places to No.14.
PSA Women’s World Rankings Top 20 – December 2015
Pictures by STEVE LINE (www.squshpics.com) courtesy of PSA