04/05/2012       

Selected by coach, Shi Zhihao, to open proceedings for China in the final of the Women’s event at the LIEBHERR World Team Championships in Dortmund, Ding Ning retains her top position on the World Rankings issued by the International Table Tennis Federation on Thursday 5th April 2012.

No change for Ding Ning but immediately below there is a change; Guo Yan and Liu Shiwen change places, the former is now in second spot with Liu Shiwen in third place.

However, neither played in the final.

Li Xiaoxia and Guo Yue lined up alongside Ding Ning.

Progress for Guo Yue
Li Xiaoxia, the only Chinese player to lose an individual match in Dortmund, when beaten in the semi-finals by Hong Kong’s Tie Yana, remains in fourth place, one ahead of Guo Yue who makes progress.

Formerly Guo Yue was in seventh spot.

Kasumi Ishikawa Highest Non-Chinese Player
Thus, the top five places all belong to China with Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa being highest non-Chinese player on the list; she remains at no.6 ahead of Singapore’s Wang Yuegu who climbs one place to no.7.

Tie Yana, whose only defeat at the LIEBHERR World Team Championships, was against Korea’s Seok Ha Jung, moves from no.10 to no.8 with Singapore’s Feng Tianwei falling from no.5 to no.9.

Top Twelve Completed
Japan’s Ai Fukuhara moves to no.10, previously being one place below, with China’s Wu Yang and Japan’s Sayaka Hirano completing the top 12 names.

Wu Yang, not on duty in Dortmund, was previously at no.9, with Sayaka Hirano being at no.13.

Ten Places Higher
Progress for those who enjoyed success at the LIEBHERR World Team Championships and there is progress for several others who excelled in Dortmund.

Korea’s Dang Ye Seo, Romania’s Daniela Dodean and Germany’s Irene Ivancan, all move into the top 40 and all climb ten places. Formerly at no.43, Dang Ye Seo climbs to no.33; similarly Daniela Dodean moves from no.47 to no.37 and Irene Ivancan from no.49 to no.39.

Top Forty Positions
Similarly there is progress for DPR Korea’s Ri Myong Sun and Austria’s Liu Jia; both now occupy top 50 places. Ri Myong Sun enters the list at no.44, Liu Jia climbs from no.65 to no.48.

Moving Towards Top Fifty
Additionally, as a result of their efforts in Dortmund, several players are now advancing towards a top 50 place.

Representing the more experienced; 43 year old Gao Jun from the United States returns to the global list at no.67, whilst somewhat younger three players catch the eye. Ukraine’s 20 year old Margaryta Pesotska climbs from no.73 to no.52 and Chinese Taipei’s 18 year old Chen Szu-Yu moves from no.68 to no.57.

Slightly older, Russia’s 27 year old Anna Tikhomirova is now at no.55. Previously she stood at no.77.

Notable Progress
Progress for European players in the guise of Liu Jia, Margaryta Pesotska and Anna Tikhomirova; there is also progress for several others in the top one hundred of the newly published Women’s World Rankings.

Carole Grundisch of France moves from no.91 to no.76, Poland’s Natalia Partyka from no.96 to no.77, Russia’s Yana Noskova from no.95 to no.82 and Mie Skov from the Netherlands enters the top one hundred. Previously at no.107, she is now at no.90.

Also making a notable climb to stake a top hundred place is DPR Korea’s Ri Mi Gyong, formerly at no. 158, she now appears at no.99.

Remains the Same
Meanwhile, at the top of the age group lists there is no change.

Liu Shiwen heads the Under 21 Women’s Rankings ahead of Kasumi Ishikawa and Wu Yang; the Chinese pairing of Zhu Yuling and Chen Meng retain the top two places on the Under 18 Girls’ list ahead of Korea’s Yang Ha Eun with Japan continuing to be at the fore on the Under 15 Girls’ Rankings.

Yui Hamamoto retains her no.1 spot followed by compatriot, Mima Ito and China’s He Zhoujia.