by Ian Marshall, Editor

The 28 year old replaces colleague, Zhu Yuling at the top of the order, she occupied the coveted first place on seven occasions in 2018; she ascended to top of the list in March before maintaining the position for a consecutive six months commencing in July.

Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa and Chen Meng are the names next on the order of merit as in December. No change for Cheng Meng but that is not the situation for her colleagues, Liu Shiwen and Wang Manyu, they changes places. Liu Shiwen now appears at no.5, Wang Manyu one place lower at no.6.

Meanwhile, immediately below, the next five places are as the previous month. Japan’s Mima Ito remains at no.7, followed by Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching and colleague, Mima Ito; Singapore’s Feng Tianwei continues in the no.10 spot again ahead of Korea Republic’s Suh Hyowon. The status quo for Mima Ito and Miu Hirano, for compatriot Hitomi Sato there is a climb of four places; she now stands at no.12. The players to make way being China’s Chen Xingtong and Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem. Each drops one place, Chen Xingtong is now at no.13, Doo Hoi Kem at no.14.

Progress for Hitomi Sato but it does not match the advances made by China’s Sun Yingsha and He Zhuojia. Both on duty at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Incheon, Sun Yingsha climbs from no.25 to no.17 and approaches her career best of no.11 in June 2018; He Zhuojia, the quite sensational runner up in Incheon, moves from her prior best of no.50 to no.27.

Climbing the order but alas there are those who must make way; notably Germany’s Han Ying drops from no.29 to no.41, Japan’s Hina Hayata from no.34 to no.43 and Sakura Mori, also from Japan, from no.76 to no.110.

Wednesday 2nd January: Complete World Rankings