Today's publication of the February Women's Squash Association World
Rankings shows a record 13 nations represented in the top 20.
Malaysian Nicol David heads the list - extending to 91 months the
longest ever unbroken reign as world number one.
The
unchanged top five sees England's Laura Massaro at two; Egyptian
Raneem El Welily at No3; England's British national champion
Alison Waters at four; and New Zealander Joelle King in fifth
place.
In the
only change in the top ten, Dipika Pallikal consolidates her
position as the top-ranked Indian by moving up to a
career-equalling-high No10. The 22-year-old from Chennai won two WSA
World Tour titles in 2013.
But it
is further representation in the top 20 from Ireland, France,
Hong Kong, Netherlands, Australia, USA,
Denmark and Guyana - after Nicolette Fernandes
celebrates a two-place leap to a career-high-equalling 19 - that
provides the most notable feature of the latest WSA list.
"This
is a wonderful indication of the spread of top women's squash talent
around the world - and gives us great optimism as we look to expand both
the membership and calendar of women's events," said newly-elected WSA
President Kasey Brown, the world No13 from Australia.
"It is
also highly encouraging to look further down the rankings and see our
stars of the future like Misaki Kobayashi, a career-high world
No29 and already the highest-ranked Japanese player of all-time;
21-year-old Welsh player Tesni Evans at a best-ever No36;
23-year-old Samantha Cornett leading the way for Canada just
outside the top 30; and Czech players like Lucie Fialova making
great progress," added Brown.
