Setting the Standard in Kuala Lumpur, Liu Shiwen Continues in Top Spot
Courtesy of ITTF
Leading the line for China at the recently concluded Perfect 2016 World Team Championships Kuala Lumpur, Liu Shiwen continues to occupy the top position on the Women’s World Rankings.
She is named in the no.1 spot for the fifth consecutive month on the listings released following the conclusion of proceedings in the Malaysian capital city; it is the fifth consecutive month that she has occupied the exalted position and overall the 27th time during her career.
Next in Line
Colleagues Ding Ning and Zhu Yuling continue to occupy the next two places with Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa and Ai Fukuhara changing places. Kasumi Ishikawa is now at no.4 with Ai Fukuhara at no.5, being one position ahead of Singapore’s Feng Tianwei who climbs two places.
The effect of the progress made by Feng Tianwei is that Chen Meng and Li Xiaoxia, both members of the Chinese outfit in Kuala Lumpur, each drop one place. Chen Meng is now at no.7, Li Xiaoxia at no.8.
Matches Best
Notably, Mima Ito who played such a pivotal role in Japan’s silver medal at the Perfect 2016 World Team Championships advances three places to no.9 and thus equals the best ever status of her fledgling career.
Previously she occupied the same spot in June 2015.
One place below, Wu Yang, not on duty for China in Kuala Lumpur, remains at no.10, being one ahead of Germany’s Han Ying and Korea’s Seo Hyowon. Formerly, Han Ying was at no.9, Seo Hyowon at no.13.
Enjoy Best Ever
Progress of one place for Seo Hyowon; for two notable names slightly further down the order of merit, following their efforts in Kuala Lumpur, they enjoy their best ever status.
Petrissa Solja, like Han Ying from Germany, moves from no.17 to no.13, Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching from no.19 to 16. The best ever previous listing for Petrissa Solja was no.14 in November 2015, for Cheng I-Ching, no.17 one month earlier in October.
Major Progress
Likewise, there is major progress and career high listings for Ukraine’s Tetyana Bilenko, DPR Korea’s Kim Song I and Puerto Rico’s 15 year old Adriana Diaz.
Tetyana Bilenko moves from no.49 to no.39; Kim Song I from no.89 to no.51 and Adriana Diaz from no.100 to no.85.
The prior best for Tetyana Bilenko was no.41 in December 2015 and earlier this year in January. Also for Kim Song I her prior best was in the first month of this year when she reached no.80; whilst for Adriana Diaz it was one month ago when she occupied to no.100 position.
Similar Situation
Prominent advancement, it is the same for Austria’s Sofia Polcanova, Carole Grundisch of France and Egypt’s Dina Meshref who leads the African cause.
Sofia Polcanova moves from no.68 to no.56, Carole Grundisch from no.97 to no.41; Dina Meshref from no.114 to no.97. All three approach the highest status of the careers; the best previous for Sofia Polcanova was no.31 in September and October 2014, for Carole Grundisch no.68 in May 2015, for Dina Meshref no.95 last December and earlier this year in January.
Lower Status
Climbing the ladder; in the opposite direction there are those who must pay the price.
Notably Germany’s Wu Jiaduo falls from no.60 to no.72, Poland’s Natalia Partyka from no.61 to no.73.
Continues to Lead
Meanwhile, on the Under 21 Women’s World Rankings, Zhu Yuling continues to lead the list followed by the Japanese duo of Mima Ito and Miu Hirano.
Also, Mima Ito appears at the top of the Under 18 Girls’ World Rankings followed by Miu Hirano and Korea’s Choi Hyojoo.
New Leader
No change but there is change at the top of the Under 15 Girls’ World Rankings, Miyu Nagasaki, also from Japan climbs from no.6 to no.1, replacing colleague, Miyuu Kihara who is now at no.2; similarly, Russia’s Maria Taylakova falls one place, she is now at no.3.
Notably Miyu Nagasaki won the Cadet Girls’ Singles titles on the ITTF Junior Circuit in the Czech Republic and France; whilst being the runner up in Sweden.
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