WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Jackman Strengthens Hold On World No1 Ranking

England's Cassie Jackman strengthens her grasp on the No1 position in the new April Women's World Squash Rankings, announced today (31 March) by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA), by extending her lead over Australia's second-placed Rachael Grinham.

The top five positions remain unchanged, with Dutch No1 Vanessa Atkinson retaining her third place, ahead of Rachael's younger sister Natalie Grinham at four and USA's Natalie Grainger at five.  The top four lead the field in the Texas Open in Houston where the third WISPA Gold event of the year gets underway on Thursday.

Boosted by her victory in the Washington Summit at the beginning of March, England's Linda Charman rises to six in the new list, overtaking compatriot Fiona Geaves who slips to seven.

While England's Jenny Duncalf returns to her career-high No12 position, Ireland's Madeline Perry also rises a single place in the new list to record a career-best world No16 ranking. 

After a gap of more than three years, USA's Latasha Khan returns to the top twenty at 20.  The 31-year-old was a quarter-finalist in the Washington Summit - then two weeks later clinched her fourth title in the US National Championships on her home courts in Seattle.

Twin title success in New Zealand this month - in the North Shore International and Geyser City Open - has lifted Wellington's Tamsyn Leevey three places to a best-ever world No30 position in the April list.

1 [1] Cassie Jackman ENG
2 [2] Rachael Grinham AUS
3 [3] Vanessa Atkinson NED
4 [4] Natalie Grainger USA
5 [5] Natalie Grinham AUS
6 [7] Linda Charman ENG
7 [6] Fiona Geaves ENG
8 [8] Nicol David MAS
9 [9] Rebecca Macree ENG
10 [10] Omneya Abdel Kawy EGY
11 [11] Vicky Botwright ENG
12 [13] Jenny Duncalf ENG
13 [12] Isabelle Stoehr FRA
14 [14] Shelley Kitchen NZL
15 [15] Stephanie Brind ENG
16 [17] Madeline Perry IRL
17 [18] Jenny Tranfield ENG
18 [16] Tania Bailey ENG
19 [19] Rebecca Chiu HKG
20 [21] Latasha Khan USA

For the complete WISPA ranking list, see www.wispa.net