by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
It is the first time in her career that Zhu Yuling has headed the list, she replaces colleague, Ding Ning, the reigning Olympic and World champion whose name no long appears owing to a recent absence from the international scene.
The effect is that there is a climb of one place for Chen Meng and Liu Shiwen, likewise both from China; Chen Meng is now at no.2 followed by Liu Shiwen. Similarly it is one position higher for the next three names in the order of merit. Kasumi Ishikawa is now at no.4 followed by Japanese colleagues Miu Hirano and Mima Ito.
Bronze medallist in Markham, Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching is the next in line; she climbs from no.10 to no.7, being one place ahead of Singapore’s Feng Tianwei and China’s Sun Yingsha. Each retains their status of one month ago.
No change for Feng Tianwei and Sun Yingsha; for the players who complete the top 12 names, it is one step higher. Wang Manyu, like Sun Yingsha from China now appears at no.10 pursued by Germany’s Han Ying and Japan’s Hitomi Sato.
Progress but amongst the elite names, the most notable progress is that made by Korea’s Suh Hyowon; she is now listed at no.20, having in October appeared at no.27.
Also, in the top 50 names there is major advancement for Chinese Taipei’s Chen Szu-Yu and for Hong Kong’s Lee Ho Ching both quarter-finalists in Markham. Chen Szu-Yu moves from no.32 to no.21, Lee Ho Ching from no.42 to no.27. Progress for Lee Ho Ching, it marks very much a changing of the guard in Hong Kong; pertinently the names of Tie Yana and Jiang Huajun, pivotal members of the national team for over a decade, no long appear on the listings.
Efforts at the Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals rewarded, it is very much the same for Egypt’s Dina Meshref; beaten in the opening round by Liu Shiwen, having negotiated the group stage, she moves from no.103 to no.92.
Somewhat similarly Germany’s Nina Mittelham benefits from her October exploits; winner of the Under 21 Women’s Singles title at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Polish Open, she advances from no.113 to no.90.
Meanwhile on both the Under 21 Women’s World Rankings and Under 18 Girls’ World Rankings, the top three names are the same and remain the same. Miu Hirano continues in top spot, followed by Mima Ito and Sun Yingsha.
However, on the Under 15 Girls’ World Rankings, there is a change; Japan’s Miyuu Kihara and Miyu Nagasaki continue to occupy the respective top two places but next in line is now Crystal Wang of the United States.
She climbs from no.5 to no.3; China’s Huang Yingqi drops one position; she is now in the no.4 spot.