New Delhi: A final appearance at the Texas Open last month has pushed India's top squash player Dipika Pallikal back to the top-10 of the world rankings.
Pallikal gained two places to be number 10 in the Women's Squash Association (WSA) rankings, the spot she has reached for the first time in December 2012.
"It is obviously a good feeling when you climb up the rankings. I have to be consistent now and try to get into the top five and eventually the number one spot," Pallikal told PTI on Monday.
India's other women's player Joshana Chinappa remains in 21st position despite winning the Richmond Open last month. While Malaysian legend Nicol David surges on to a 94th successive month as world number one, it is Ireland's Madeline Perry who has grabbed maximum attention in the latest rankings.
Perry has become the oldest player in history to retain a place in the top ten. She is ranked ninth. Perry, who in December won a record 14th Irish National Championship title, joined the WSA World Tour in July 1998. After securing a career-high World No.3 ranking in April 2011, and reaching 27 finals and winning 11, Perry celebrated her 37th birthday in February.
England's world champion Laura Massaro holds onto second place ahead of Egypt's third-placed Raneem El Welily and New Zealander Joelle King at No.4.
France's Camille Serme returns to a career-equalling-high No.5, with England's Alison Waters at No.6.
The impressive recent run by Nour El Sherbini has seen the Egyptian teenager follow her 14-place rise in the April rankings by jumping a further six positions to No.7.
