Malaysia's record eight-time World Champion Nicol David is celebrating a historic milestone this month after the July World Rankings, released today (July 1st), saw her reach her 151st successive month in the world's top 10 – overtaking the previous record established by Peter Nicol in October 2006.
The 32-year-old national icon first broke into the world’s top ten in January 2004 after reaching the semi-final stage of the Women’s World Championship and rose to World No.1 for the first time exactly two years later before being overtaken by Vanessa Atkinson.
David soon returned to the summit of the game in August 2006 though, and retained her position as the World No.1 for an unprecedented nine-year reign which eventually came to an end in September 2015.
“Sometimes I get so caught up on working on getting better and improving myself that it's only when I take a bit of time off to reflect that I come to terms with it,” said David, speaking in July 2015 after her nine-year reign as World No.1 was announced.
“I think I might only fully comprehend the magnitude of everything when I step out of the game, but that's not going to be happening anytime soon. Squash still has a lot to offer that keeps me going. The experience that I get when I win an event, after all the hard work and dedication to training pays off, is such a thrill that nothing can replace it.”
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.
“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.
“Congratulations and I'm wondering what other milestones are yet to be added to her amazing achievements.”
Elsewhere in the rankings, Chennai-born Joshna Chinappa has become only the second female Indian player in history 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.
Meanwhile, England’s Alison Waters has fallen three places to No.13, while her compatriots, Sarah-Jane Perry and Emily Whitlock, move up to No.12 and No.16 – with the latter being a career-best for Whitlock. Egypt’s Nour El Tayeb falls two spots to No.16, while 2007 World Champion Rachael Grinham remains at No.20 for the fifth successive month.
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