(by Steve Hopkins)

Despite some surprises at the United States Smash, the World Rankings saw very little changes near the top.  Lin Shidong maintains the first position, though Wang Chuqin’s Smash victory has narrowed the margin (8975 to 8225 are their current totals – a separation that could be bridged in one event).  Hugo Calderano is in third with 5400 points and Tomokazu Harimoto is just 50 points behind him in fourth.  Liang Jingkun has floated downwards in the rankings, but he is pretty safe this week in the fifth position.  Felix Lebrun has moved up one slot, jumping over Truls Moregard – that swapping of sixth and seventh positions is the only change in the Top 15 this week.  The rest of the Top 10 are Lin Yun-Ju, Darko Jorgic, and Xiang Peng.

The effect of the United States Smash can be seek a little further down in the rankings as Jonathan Groth moved up 6 spots to No. 22, and Lee Sang Su jumped four spots to No. 26.  Yuta Tanaka takes a big jump up 23 positions to No. 37, and Lilian Bardet is the biggest mover as he jumped up 43 spots to No. 41.

Hugo Calderano is the top player outside of China (at No. 3), Felix Liebrun is the top Euro player at No. 6, Omar Assar is the top player from Africa at No. 23 (with Quadri Aruna close behind at No. 24).  The top American is Kanak Jha at No. 28.  And on the heels of a major event in the US, Ma Jinbao is up 16 spots to No. 103, Nandan Narest is up a spot to No. 124, Sid Naresh is up 10 spots to No. 135, and Jishan Liang is up 24 spots to No. 199.

In Women’s Singles there are five Chinese topping the Rankings: Yingsha, Manyu, Xingtong, Kuai, and Yidi.  Sixth now goes to former Chinese team member Zhu Yuling who plays for Macao (she has moved up 8 spots this week).  The next three players are Japanese: Harimoto, Ito, and Odo.  And Chen Yi of China is No. 10 – after jumping up 7 spots.  Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico is No. 21.  Lily Zhang of the US is No. 28 and Amy Wang is No. 56.

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