Nicol David From Malaysia is World #1

Nicol David, the world open champ, takes over at world #1 - Malaysia's first world #1 in any sport. © 2005 Debra Tessier

Nicol David Holds Onto No1 Ranking – But Perry Powers Into Top Ten

Malaysia's Nicol David holds onto her No1 position in the new February Women’s World Squash Rankings, issued today (Wednesday) by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA), but Ireland's Madeline Perry powers into the world top ten for the first time. 

David, the 22-year-old from Penang who topped the list for the first time in January, heads an unchanged top seven, with Netherlands' Vanessa Atkinson at two; Australian sisters Rachael Grinham and Natalie Grinham at three and four, respectively; and England team-mates Vicky Botwright and Linda Elriani in fifth and sixth place.   USA's Natalie Grainger remains at No7.

David, at 1949.2 points, enjoys only a slight edge over #2 Vanessa Atkinson, who is at 1820.5, while Rachael Grinham has fallen back substantially, at 1656.7 points. A victory or two by Atkinson, beginning this weekend at Apawamis, could change the balance again.

Madeline Perry enjoyed a highly successful year in 2005, winning two WISPA World Tour titles, the Buler Challenge Cup in Hong Kong in February and the Irish Open in Dublin in April.  In November, the 28-year-old from Craigavon reached the Monte Carlo Classic final as the fourth seed, and followed this success by making it through to the last eight of the World Open in Hong Kong, where she was the tenth seed.

Perry becomes the second highest-ranked Irishwoman ever, behind Rebecca Best who reached No. 6 in July 1988.

England's Jenny Duncalf moves up two places to a career-equalling-high world No8, while compatriot Laura-Jane Lengthorn rises two places to a best-ever world No13 ranking.  The 22-year-old from Lancashire was an unexpected semi-finalist in the first WISPA event she played in this year, the Greenwich Open in Connecticut. 

            1           [1]        Nicol David       MAS
            2          [2]        Vanessa Atkinson          NED
            3          [3]        Rachael Grinham           AUS
            4          [4]        Natalie Grinham            AUS
            5          [5]        Vicky Botwright            ENG
            6          [6]        Linda Elriani     ENG
            7          [7]        Natalie Grainger           USA
            8          [10]      Jenny Duncalf  ENG
            9          [9]        Tania Bailey     ENG
            10         [11]       Madeline Perry IRL
            11         [8]        Omneya Abdel Kawy     EGY
            12         [12]      Alison Waters   ENG
            13         [15]      Laura-Jane Lengthorn   ENG
            14         [13]      Annelize Naude            NED
            15         [14]      Isabelle Stoehr            FRA
            16         [16]      Shelley Kitchen NZL
            17         [17]      Rebecca Chiu    HKG
            18         [19]      Fiona Geaves    ENG
            19         [18]      Pamela Nimmo   SCO
            20        [20]      Engy Kheirallah EGY