(by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor)
Liu Shiwen, most successful ever, defends Asian crown
Notably, in addition to winning last year in Dubai, Liu Shiwen also emerged successful in 2010 in Guangzhou as well as in consecutive years, once again in Guangzhou in 2012 and in 2013 when the tournament was staged in Hong Kong.

No other player has ever won the title on more than two occasions and the only other player to have claimed the crown in consecutive years is Guo Yue, also from China; she won in Sapporo in 2008 and retained the title one year later in Hangzhou.

Four times the winner of the Asian Cup, in addition Liu Shiwen has won the Women’s World Cup on the same number of occasions; the only players who can match that feat are her now retired compatriots, Wang Nan and Zhang Yining.

Now in 2017, Liu Shiwen has a major opportunity to surpass the record of Zhang Yining; the top three players in Ahmedabad, qualify directly for Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup to be staged in Markham, Toronto later this year in October. No doubt when the final lists are announced, according to world ranking, further places will be available.

Success after success for Liu Shiwen but she does not harbour the happiest memories of India; two years ago when the event was staged in Jaipur, she was beaten in the final by Singapore’s Feng Tianwei. The silver medal was her lot, with colleague Zhu Yuling having to settle for bronze; in the group phase she had also experienced defeat at the hands of the Singaporean.

All three appear on the Ahmedabad entry list, Zhu Yuling and Liu Shiwen are the respective top two seeds; Feng Tianwei is the no.4 seed with Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa being next in line.

For full article, please click hereNotably, in addition to winning last year in Dubai, Liu Shiwen also emerged successful in 2010 in Guangzhou as well as in consecutive years, once again in Guangzhou in 2012 and in 2013 when the tournament was staged in Hong Kong.

No other player has ever won the title on more than two occasions and the only other player to have claimed the crown in consecutive years is Guo Yue, also from China; she won in Sapporo in 2008 and retained the title one year later in Hangzhou.

Four times the winner of the Asian Cup, in addition Liu Shiwen has won the Women’s World Cup on the same number of occasions; the only players who can match that feat are her now retired compatriots, Wang Nan and Zhang Yining.

Now in 2017, Liu Shiwen has a major opportunity to surpass the record of Zhang Yining; the top three players in Ahmedabad, qualify directly for Uncle Pop 2017 ITTF Women’s World Cup to be staged in Markham, Toronto later this year in October. No doubt when the final lists are announced, according to world ranking, further places will be available.

uccess after success for Liu Shiwen but she does not harbour the happiest memories of India; two years ago when the event was staged in Jaipur, she was beaten in the final by Singapore’s Feng Tianwei. The silver medal was her lot, with colleague Zhu Yuling having to settle for bronze; in the group phase she had also experienced defeat at the hands of the Singaporean.

All three appear on the Ahmedabad entry list, Zhu Yuling and Liu Shiwen are the respective top two seeds; Feng Tianwei is the no.4 seed with Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa being next in line.

For full article, please click here