by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor

Japan’s Maki Shiomi, not present in Hong Kong, remains in top spot (4,000 points) but immediately below, colleague Miyu Nagasaki, beaten by Liu Weishan in the Hong Kong final, moves from no.7 to no.2 (2,380 points).

Most pertinently, the appearance in Hong Kong means that Miyu Nagasaki has now completed the two continent criteria required for the Finals to be stage next February in Luxembiurg; previously, she had played in the Czech Republic and France.

Also, the elevation of Miyu Nagasaki means that Yuka Minagawa, also from Japan, drops two places to no.4 (2,300 points); a similar situation that befalls Romania’s Adina Diaconu, Belgium’s Lisa Lung and a further Japanese player in the guise of Yumeno Soma. Adina Diaconu is now at no.5 (2,230 points), followed by Lisa Lung (1,886 points) and Yumeno Soma (1,869 points).

Progress for Liu Weishan, there is also progress for her colleague, Qian Tianyi; she advances from no.10 to no.8 (1,792 points), with Chinese Taipei’s Chen Ting-Ting, the surprise quarter-final winner over Qian Tianyi in Hong Kong, now being at no.9 (1,771). Formerly, she was named at no.18.

Immediately below, Azerbaijan’s Ning Jing drops from no.6 to no.10 (1,640 points), being now one place ahead of Chinese Taipei’s Su Pei-Ling who reached the second round in Hong Kong (1,614 points). Amy Wang of the United States completes the top 12 names (1,250 points); the winner earlier in the year in Argentina, she falls four places.

Meanwhile, on the Boys’ Standings, China’s Yang Shuo, the winner in Hong Kong, enters the list at no.12 (1,400 points), alongside colleague Wang Chuqin and Japan’s Fumiya Igarashi. Each descends one place.

Notably, Xu Yingbin, a semi-finalist in Hong Kong climbs from no.24 to no.7 (1,596 points); the effect being that members of the ensuing group are all now one place lower. Azerbaijan’s Yang Xinyu is now at no.8 (1,200 points), followed by Japan’s Aoto Asazu (1,460 points), Frenchman Remi Menand (1,425 points) and Kanak Jha of the United States (1,450 points).

Changes but not at the very top of the Boys’ Standings; Bastien Rembert of France continues to lead the list (2,880 points), next in line is Russia’s Artur Abusev (2,560 points) with Argentina’s Francisco Sanchi in third spot (2,275 points). Romania’s Cristian Pletea (1,866 points), Austria’s Maciej Kolodziejczyk (1,648 points) and Japan’s Shunsuke Togami (1,630 points) complete the top six names.

A total of 16 boys and 16 girls qualify for the 2017 ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals in Luxembourg next February, the best three results gained in each continent determining the overall points. A top 12 finish is the realistic goal to gain an invitation.

In each of the Boys’ Singles and Girls’ Singles events, no association may be represented by more than two players, the host association is allotted one place.  Each continent is eligible for at least one representative (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America and Oceania). Also, to gain an invitation to the Finals, a player must have competed in two continents.

2017 ITTF World Junior Circuit: Junior Boys’ Standings (Monday 7th August)

2017 ITTF World Junior Circuit: Junior Girls’ Standings (Monday 7th August)