Nicol Starts Third Consecutive Year As World Number One

Malaysian squash queen Nicol David. Pix: Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysian squash queen Nicol David began her third year as world number one when the January Women's World Squash Rankings was released by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (Wisma).

The 24-year-old Malaysian, who first topped the list in January 2006, now moves into her 18th successive month as world No.1 after having accumulated 27,515 points by winning the CIMB KL Open, Kuwait Open, Qatar Classic, CIMB Malaysian Open, CIMB Singapore Masters, Feroxx Dutch Open and Cathay Pacific Hongkong Open.

The Penang lass enjoyed a brilliant run last year, winning eight Wispa World Tour titles from 10 final appearances but unfortunately the World Open title slipped from her grasp.

Voted Wispa Player of the Year last month for the third year in a row, Nicol achieved another milestone at the end of 2007 when she was voted Asian Sportswoman of the Year in the inaugural awards launched by the Asian Sports Press Union.

Australia's Grinham sisters are hot on Nicol's heels as Netherlands-based Natalie, whom Nicol had beaten in five finals last year, is in second spot on 25,465 points while 2007 British Open and World Open champion Rachael is in third place with 21,665.

Natalie finished the year on a high -- avenging her defeat by Rachael in October's Madrid World Open final to beat her older sibling in the climax of the Monte Carlo Classic in Monaco in December.

It was the 29-year-old Queenslander's first Wispa Tour title success since capturing the $50,000 Seoul Open crown in South Korea in April.

Natalie Grainger holds onto fourth position in the New Year list as she celebrates the beginning of her tenth year in the world top ten. The 30-year-old made her top ten debut in January 1999 as a South African, converting to English allegiance later in the year.

But this year, Washington DC-based Grainger cemented her status as a US citizen by winning the US National title, the Pan American Games gold medal, as well as five Wispa World Tour titles on her new 'home' soil.

English players occupy the next three positions - with Tania Bailey at No 5, Vicky Botwright at No 6; and Jenny Duncalf at No 7. In fact the only movement in the top 10 standings was when Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy rose one place to replace Vanessa Atkinson in eighth position, relegating the Dutch lass to ninth.

Top 10 ranked players:



1 [1] Nicol David (MAS) 27,515pts

2 [2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) 25,465

3 [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 21,655

4 [4] Natalie Grainger (USA) 17,292

5 [5] Tania Bailey (ENG) 11,700

6 [6] Vicky Botwright (ENG) 10,592

7 [7] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 9,867

8 [9] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 8,391

9 [8] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 7,880

10 [10] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 6,829

(Note: Old rank in parenthesis)

-- BERNAMA