KUALA LUMPUR: Rachel Arnold can smile a little after the latest Professional Squash Association (PSA) Tour rankings were released.
The 26-year-old climbed to a career high world No 24 in the women's rankings.
This came after Rachel reached the semi-finals of last week's Malaysian Open – her best ever showing in a PSA World Tour event.
For the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, who previously was stuck in the world mid-30s, the latest ranking was certainly morale boosting.
Rachel has moved ahead of Aifa Azman who dropped to world No 33.
"I'm quite happy with the way I've been playing. I feel I've been able to challenge the top 10-15 players a lot more.
"I was always hanging around the 30-40 rung for much of my career and it was quite an annoying phase for me.
"But now I'm feeling good about where my game is headed and hopefully with a bit more hard work in training and a few more solid performances, I can start targeting the top 20 or higher."
With Rachel's upswing in form, Malaysia look set to do well in the women's World Team Championships in Cairo from Dec 10-16.
With world No 19 and national No 1 S. Sivasangari possibly out until January as she recovers from injury, Rachel is expected to lead the challenge as the new national No 2.
"Hopefully we'll come together well as a team and finish better than what we did in 2018," said Rachel.
In 2018, Malaysia led by Nicol David, lost to France in the quarter-finals.