Ambition achieved in Rio de Janeiro but top spot still belongs to Liu Shiwen

by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

The effect is that colleague Zhu Yuling and Singapore’s Feng Tianwei each drops one place; Zhu Yuling is at no.4 with Feng Tianwei being at no.5. A downward trend but not for the next three in line, Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa, Germany’s Han Ying and Ai Fukuhara, also from Japan, retain their previous positions.

Highest of Career

However, following her quarter-final appearance in Rio de Janeiro, Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching reserves the highest status of her career; a feat she also achieved in the immediate previous listing. She climbs one place to no.9.

One place higher for Cheng I-Ching means one place lower for Japan’s Mima Ito; she is now at no.9; Korea’s Jeon Jihee is the next on the list being stationary at no.11.

Notably, Singapore’s Yu Mengyu climbs one place to no.12 and replaces China’s Wu Yang who drops one place to no.13.

Major Progress

Progress for Yu Mengyu who approaches her career best of no.9 in March 2010; for DPR Korea’s Kim Song I, bronze medallist in Rio de Janeiro, she achieves the highest listing of her career. She climbs from no.50 to no.26.

A notable climb for Kim Song I, it is the same for Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem and Austria’s Liu Jia; both advanced to the fourth round of the Women’s Singles event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Doo Hoi Kem moves from no.22 to no.15, Liu Jia from no.25 to no.18; for both it is a major step towards their highest ever status. Doo Hoi Kem reached no.13 in July and August 2015; Liu Jia occupied the no.9 spot for three months commencing in April 2005.

Similar

Likewise, there are major steps towards their previous best for Thailand’s Nanthana Komwong, Australia’s Jian Fang Lay, Canada’s Zhang Mo and Lily Zhang of the United States.

Nanthana Komwong, who progressed to the third round of the Women’s Singles event in Rio de Janeiro, climbs ten places to no.62; Lily Zhang who advanced to the same stage in Rio de Janeiro, enjoys an event bigger move. She advances from no.101 to no.86.

The best for Nanthana Komwong is no.57in December 2008; for Lily Zhang, no.67 in May 2014.

Second Round Efforts Rewarded

Meanwhile, Jian Fang Lay who reached the second round of the Women’s Singles competition in Rio de Janeiro is moves from no.128 to no.94; Zhang Mo who progressed to the same round is one place lower, having been at no.109 on the immediate previous listing.

The career best for Jian Fang Lay is no.69 in May 2004, for Zhang Mo no.79 in June 2015.