WORLD SQUASH NEWS

Rachael Strengthens WISPA Grand Prix Standings Lead

The Bahrain WISPA Classic, the fifth leg of the WISPA Grand Prix this year, saw winner Rachael Grinham, the world number one from Australia, consolidate her position at the top of the Qatar Airways-sponsored Grand Prix Standings.

The top eight players at the end of the year will qualify for the Grand Prix Finals next spring, with Egypt's Omneya Abdel Kawy occupying the eighth place as a result of her quarter-final finish in Bahrain.  Malaysian Nicol David also reached the last eight in Manama and has now moved up to ninth position, while England's Tania Bailey is also closing in on an invitation - having beaten two seeds on her way to the quarters - and is now up to twelve.

"If, as the promoters hope, the British Open moves up to Gold level, then it will be the next championship whose points feature in the Qatar Airways Grand Prix Standings," WISPA Director Andrew Shelley pointed out.   

Qatar Airways WISPA World Grand Prix standings:

1 Rachael Grinham (AUS) 10,325
2 Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 8120
3 Cassie Jackman (ENG) 7140
4 Natalie Grinham (AUS) 4655
5 Fiona Geaves (ENG) 3080
6 Linda Elriani (ENG) 2765
7 Rebecca Macree (ENG) 2520
8 Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 2380
9 Nicol David (MAS) 2152.5
10 Vicky Botwright (ENG) 1855
11 Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 1767.5
12 Tania Bailey (ENG) 1750
13 Isabelle Stoehr (FRA) 1662.5
13 Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 1662.5
15 Madeline Perry (IRL) 1592.5
16 Rebecca Chiu (HKG) 1417.5