(by Steve Hopkins)

In the latest ITTF Rankings, Fan Zhendong, Ma Long and Wang Chuqin continue to hold the top three positions.  In fact, when you include Liang Jingkun at No. 7 and Lin Gaoyuan at No. 12, and Lin Shidong at No. 19, China holds almost a third of the Top 20.

Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto is in the fourth position with Hugo Calderano and Truls Moregard close behind. Behind Liang, Lin Yun-Ju is No. 8.   The final two slots in the Top 10 belong to Germany with Dang Qiu moving up to No. 9, and Ovtcharov sliding one spot to No. 10.

Some big movers after last week’s Singapore Slam include Lee Sangsu who has moved up 5 slots to No. 21, Mattias Falck who is up 4 slots to No. 32, Felix Lebrun who moves up 7 spots to No. 39, and Shunsuke Togami who jumps 9 spots up to No. 40.

On the Women’s side, seven of the top 10 spots belong to China.  Sun, Chen, Wang manyu and Wang Yidi hold the top spots.  Mima Ito and Hina Hayata are numbers 5 and 6.  Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz is now No. 16.  USA’s Lily Zhang is No. 30.

More big events are quickly approaching – so expect more movement near the top of the Rankings in early May.

Visit ButterflyOnline.com for the latest table tennis news and results