Craig climbs new heights in World Rankings

Megan Craig is now within sight of a spot in the world's top 50

New Zealand squash star Megan Craig has continued her meteoric rise up the WSA women's world squash rankings.

The 19-year-old Kiwi has leapt 19 places on the August list, to be just outside the top 50 at number 52 in the world.  She has risen nearly one hundred places since September last year.

Craig has had a string of impressive results in Australia over the past three months, including victory in the Tasmanian Open.  It was the second WSA title of her young career.

Craig is now well within sight of the goal she set herself at the start of the year, which was to be in the top 50 by the end of 2012.

Four other Kiwis are in the top 50 in the rankings.  Joelle King remains the leading New Zealander on the list, dropping one place to number 13 this month, while Jaclyn Hawkes has slipped two places to number 19.  Kylie Lindsay has improved her ranking from 46 to 44 this month and Amanda Landers-Murphy is up four places to number 45.

It is fitting that so many New Zealand women are in the top 60 in the world, with 2012 being the Year of Women's Squash, as Squash New Zealand focuses on increasing the number of women in the game.  It is also encouraging for the kiwi team's prospects at November's Women's World Team Championships in France.

Meanwhile, Evan Williams has also continued his rise up the PS men's rankings.  The young Kiwi is up 11 places to number 108 in August.

Martin Knight is still the top ranked Kiwi at number 46, down two from last month, while Campbell Grayson is up to to number 51.  Kashif Shuja's also on the improve, climbing seven places to number 86 following his win at the Manawatu Classic last weekend.

Full rankings...www.squashsite.co.uk/2009/rankings.htm