(by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor)
Zhu Yuling, new name at top of world order
Winner in Markham, Toronto at the recent Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup presented by Polar Naturals, China’s Zhu Yuling is the world’s no.1 ranked female player.
She climbs one position to occupy the prestigious top spot on the Women’s World Rankings issued for November 2017.
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.
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