Egyptian player Nour El Sherbini
Rising Egyptian squash star Nour El-Sherbini is working her way to the top as she became the youngest ever player to reach the top five female players in the world, according to rankings released by the WISPA (Women's International Squash Players Association) on Monday.
The Alexandrian-born sensation, who will celebrate her 17th birthday on 1 November, has soared past Annie Au from Hong Kong in 5th place, and Madeline Perry from Ireland who dropped to seventh place.
El-Sherbini's rise is due to a busy September as she reached the quarters of the CIMB Malaysian Open before losing to world number two Laura Massaro from England, and then reached the semi-finals of the Carol Weymuller Open before losing to world number three and compatriot Raneem El-Weleily.
It is yet another 'youngest ever' accolade to add to her collection, as she is already the youngest ever world champion, winning the U-19 title at the age of 13, before becoming the youngest player to reach the British Open final last May at the age of 16. Her reward was an eight-place jump to world number seven to become the youngest player to make the top ten WISPA ranking in June 2012.
Meanwhile El-Weleily dropped a place to third as Massaro climbed to second behind Nicol David from Malaysia.
In the men's ranking Karim Darwish climbed one place to number four, switching places with compatriot Ramy Ashour.
Four-time world champion Amr Shabana dropped to the seventh place. Tarek Momen made the biggest movement in the top 20, moving six places up to number 19.
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