WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Jackman Jumps To Six In World Rankings

Whilst New Zealand's Carol Owens retains her No1 position in the new September Women's World Squash Rankings, announced today (29 August) by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA), England's Cassie Jackman rises three places to six to become the second-highest English woman in the new list.

Jackman, the 30-year-old former world champion from Norfolk, clinched her fourth WISPA World Tour title this year when she won the Mulpha-Head Malaysian Open this month in her fourth appearance in the final.  The former world No1 is fighting back to the top of her game since undergoing back surgery for the second time in her career less than a year ago.

Jackman's rise will ensure a top-eight seeding for the next major event for which this ranking list will provide the seedings - the British Open in Nottingham, in the first week of October.

The top five behind Owens remains unchanged, with USA's Natalie Grainger (who has reverted to her maiden name after separating from her husband) at two, and Australia's Rachael Grinham, England's Linda Charman and seven-times Dutch champion Vanessa Atkinson occupying the positions three, four and five, respectively.

While England's former European Junior Champion Jenny Duncalf moves up to a career-high 22 in the September rankings, the biggest jump in the list is achieved by Malaysia's Nicol David who provided the best possible celebration of her 20th birthday this week by reaching the final of the Malaysian Open.  A qualifier, David defeated three players in the world top twenty to become the first local player to reach the event's climax - and is rewarded by a 15-place leap to No24.

1 [1] Carol Owens NZL
2 [2] Natalie Pohrer USA
3 [3] Rachael Grinham AUS
4 [4] Linda Charman ENG
5 [5] Vanessa Atkinson NED
6 [9] Cassie Jackman ENG
7 [6] Tania Bailey ENG
8 [8] Natalie Grinham AUS
9 [7] Rebecca Macree ENG
10 [10] Jenny Tranfield ENG
11 [11] Fiona Geaves ENG
12 [13] Stephanie Brind ENG
13 [12] Omneya Abdel Kawy EGY
14 [14] Vicky Botwright ENG
15 [16] Shelley Kitchen NZL
16 [15] Isabelle Stoehr FRA
17 [17] Pamela Nimmo SCO
18 [18] Madeline Perry IRL
19 [19] Rebecca Chiu HKG
20 [20] Sharon Wee MAS