WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Owens Consolidates World No1 Status

New Zealand's Carol Owens, winner of her second World Open title earlier this month, strengthens her position as No1 in the new January 2004 Women's World Squash Rankings, announced today (23 December) by the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA).

After a disappointing semi-final exit in the British Open in October, 32-year-old Owens stormed back to reach the finals of the US Open, the Qatar Classic and the Credit Suisse Privilege Women's World Open in Hong Kong and celebrated her 50th appearance in a WISPA final with a four-game victory over England's Cassie Jackman.

Jackman, a former world champion, slips to three in the new list while USA's Natalie Grainger returns to the No2 position after winning the Qatar Classic in Doha.

Malaysia is represented in the world top ten for the first time after the meteoric leap by twice former world junior champion Nicol David.  Ranked outside the top fifty in June after a layoff last year, David rapidly reasserted herself on the WISPA Tour in the second half of the year.  After reaching the finals of both the Malaysian Open and Monte Carlo Classic unseeded, 20-year-old David went on to beat three seeds - including second seed Natalie Grainger - to achieve a semi-final berth in the World Open.

Seven-times Dutch champion Vanessa Atkinson also begins the New Year on a high note, rising to a career-high-equalling No5 after reaching the last four of the World Open against the seeding.

France's Isabelle Stoehr continues her climb up the world list, jumping six places to register a career-best 14 ranking after successful runs in both the Qatar Classic and World Open.


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


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