Malaysia's Nicol David creates squash world rankings record

Published 21/07/2016 at 09:15 GMT

Malaysia's Nicol David is celebrating a historic milestone after the July World Rankings saw her enjoy her 151st successive month in the world's top 10 – overtaking the previous record held by Peter Nicol in October 2006.

Nicol David creates squash world rankings record

Image credit: Eurosport

The 32-year-old broke into the world’s top ten in January 2004 after reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s World Championship and rose to World No.1 for the first time two years later before being overtaken by Vanessa Atkinson.

David soon returned to the summit in August 2006 and retained her position as the World No.1 for an unprecedented nine-year reign which eventually came to an end in September 2015.

Fellow legends of the sport have had their say on David’s record breaking run, with Pakistan’s six-time World Champion Jahangir Khan leading the tributes.

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“This achievement cannot be over-estimated,” said Khan, who went 555-matches unbeaten throughout the 1980s.

“To maintain this level of supremacy over more than 12 and a half years is truly remarkable. Nicol’s achievements are universally recognised – she has done much to raise the profile of the sport around the world.”

Sarah Fitz-Gerald, a five-time World Champion from Australia, added: “What I love about Nicol is she’s possibly oblivious to this milestone she just achieved! To stay in the world’s top 10 for so long is an amazing feat on your body, mind and will power.”

Elsewhere in the rankings, Chennai-born Joshna Chinappa has become only the second female Indian player to reach the world’s top 10 after she moved up a place to World No.10.

United States No.1 Amanda Sobhy has also risen a single place to a joint career-high No.7 ranking, swapping places with Omneya Abdel Kawy who falls to No.8.

The rest of the top 10 is unchanged, with World Champion Nour El Sherbini maintaining her No.1 ranking ahead of England’s Laura Massaro at No.2.

Egypt’s Raneem El Welily follows some way behind at No.3, while David and World Junior Champion Nouran Gohar complete the top five at No.4 and No.5, respectively. France’s Camille Serme, at No.6, and Joelle King at No.9 are the other players to round out the top 10.

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