by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
New heights for Tomas Konecny but he is not alone; Frenchman Stéphane Ouaiche, Korea’s Cho Seungmin and Russia’s Mikhail Paikov all enjoy the highest places of their careers, as a result of recent efforts on the ITTF World Tour.
New heights
Beaten by Japan’s Yuto Muramatsu in the final in Olomouc at the ITTF World Tour Czech Open, Frenchman Stéphane Ouaiche climbs from no.92 to no.68; thus superseding his previous best of no.85 in March 2015.
Likewise, Cho Seungmin, a semi-finalist in the Czech Republic who I would suggest is a name to note for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, advances from no.127 to no.99.
Not to be outdone, Mikhail Paikov who reached the penultimate round in the Bulgaria re-enters the listings at the no.84. The previous best for Cho Seungmin was his immediate previous listing, for Mikhail Paikov it was no.95 earlier this year in April.
Climbing the list
Progress, there is also progress for Yuto Muramatsu; he climbs from no.39 to no.33 and approaches his career best of no.23 in April 2015.
It is a similar situation for Quentin Robinot, like Stéphane Ouaiche from France; the runner up in Panagyurishte, he climbs from no.104 to no.96 and approaches a career high of no.94, a position he held in January and April 2014.
Remains the same
Changes but at the top of the list, life is as it was following the conclusion of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
China’s Ma Long continues to lead the way followed by colleagues Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin and Zhang Jike. Japan’s Jun Mizutani and Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov continue in the next two places.
Hugo Calderano
Meanwhile, on the Under 21 Men’s Singles World Rankings, as a direct result of performances at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, there are changes amongst the principal names.
Fan Zhendong retains pole position but Brazil’s Hugo Calderano is now the next in line, having in August been listed at no.7; he is one position ahead of Yuto Muramatsu who was previously listed at no.4. Poland’s Jakub Dyjas is the next in the order of merit. He advances two places; previously he was listed at no.6
The player to make way is Masataka Morizono, also from Japan; he drops from no.2 to no.5.
Japan in evidence
Japan in evidence; it is the very same in the Under 18 Boys’ World Rankings. Tomokazu Harimoto retains his top spot with Yuto Kizukuri at no.3; sandwiched in between is Cho Seungmin.
Similarly, Tomokazu Harimoto continues to lead the Under 15 Boys’ World Rankings; colleague Yukiya Uda retains second spot but it is a drop of one place for Yu Kayama, also from Japan.
He is now at no.3, following his impressive efforts in Bulgaria where he advanced to the second round of the Men’s Singles event.
The month of August provided the highlights of the year
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