Egypt’s Hania El Hammamy and Mostafa Asal have reached new highs of #3 and #5 in the January 2022 PSA World Rankings …
El Hammamy reaches top three of Women’s World Rankings
Egypt’s Hania El Hammamy has reached a career-high ranking of #3 in the PSA Women’s World Rankings for January.
The 21-year-old from Cairo reached the final of the CIB Black Ball Open last month and has leapfrogged USA’s Amanda Sobhy to seal a spot inside the top three for the first time.
The Black Ball champion Nour El Sherbini stays at #1 for a 15th consecutive month ahead of Nouran Gohar (#2). Sobhy (#4) and England’s Sarah-Jane Perry complete the rest of the top five.
New Zealand’s Joelle King moves up to #6, while Egypt’s Salma Hany records a career-high ranking of #7. France’s Camille Serme – currently recovering from a calf injury – drops two places to #8, which is her lowest ranking since February, 2014. Elsewhere, Rowan Elaraby moves up to a career-high ranking of #9, while Joshna Chinappa moves back into the top 10 for the first time since August, 2021.
USA’s Olivia Fiechter rises two places to reach a career-high ranking of #11 and sits ahead of compatriot Olivia Clyne, who falls to #12. Wales’ Tesni Evans moves up three spots to #13, with Nele Gilis (#14) and Nadine Shahin completing the top 15.
Next comes Canada’s Hollie Naughton – who rises a place to a career-high ranking of #16 – and then England’s Georgina Kennedy at #17, whose semi final finish at the Black Ball event saw her rise eight places to crack the top 20 for the first time.
Emily Whitlock is also on the rise to #18, while former World #3 Nour El Tayeb – who came back from a 14-month spell on the sidelines at the Black Ball event following the birth of her daughter – has dropped 10 places to #19, her lowest ranking since August, 2014. France’s Melissa Alves rounds off the top 20.
Hong Kong’s Renee Wu is the biggest mover on the women’s tour this month and has risen 225 places to #224 after a semi final finish at the KCC PSA Challenge Cup and a last eight berth at the Hong Kong Football Club Christmas PSA event. 15-year-old Au Ling Yu, who reached the last 16 at both of those events, is the second biggest mover, rising 203 spots to #246.
Asal breaks into top five
Egypt’s Mostafa Asal has broken into the top five of the PSA Men’s World Rankings for the first time following his run to the semi finals of the CIB Black Ball Open last month.
Asal enjoyed his most successful year on the PSA Tour so far with two major PSA titles in 2021 and will look to challenge for top spot over the next 12 months. Ali Farag holds on to the World #1 spot for a fifth successive month but his lead over World #2 Paul Coll has been shortened following his defeat to the Kiwi in the Black Ball final.
The rest of the top five features Mohamed ElShorbagy (#3) and Tarek Momen (#4). Peru’s Diego Elias drops to #6, while Marwan ElShorbagy (#7), Joel Makin (#8) and Fares Dessouky (#9) retain their places. Colombia’s Miguel Rodriguez returns to the top 10 for the first time since June, 2021, while former World #1 Karim Abdel Gawad drops to #11, marking the first time since October, 2015 that he has been outside the top 10.
Frenchman Gregoire Marche moves up two places to a joint career-high ranking of #12, ahead of Mazen Hesham, Mohamed Abouelghar and Youssef Ibrahim, who rises to a career-high #15 ranking.
Saurav Ghosal drops to #16, while Malaysia’s Eain Yow Ng moves up a place to a career-high ranking of #17, switching places with Youssef Soliman, who falls to #18. Frenchman Baptiste Masotti stays at #19, while his compatriot Victor Crouin rises three spots to break into the top 20 for the first time. It is also the first time that three Frenchman have been ranked inside the top 20 at the same time.
The biggest mover on the men’s tour this month is 18-year-old Egyptian Seifeldin Shams, who has risen 457 places to #353 following his runner up finish at the MST Dubai Squash Series I in December. Pakistan’s Muhammad Jehangir Khan reached the quarter finals of that event and is the second biggest mover, rising 411 places to #399.
