by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
However, for Chinese Taipei’s Liao Cheng-Ting, similarly as for Russia’s Alexey Liventsov and Mikhail Paikov, they can start to plan flight reservations.
Winners of the Men’s Doubles event in the Flemish coastal resort, Alexey Liventsov and Mikhail Paikov are very much in line for one of the eight places available in the Finals. They move from no.7 to no.4 (463 points) on the Standings; having now competed in five events as a partnership, they have met the basic four appearance criteria.
China’s Xu Xin and Zhang Jike, the reigning World champions, continue in top spot (600 points) but to date have made only two appearances as a pairing on this year’s ITTF World Tour.
Japan’s Masataka Morizono and Yuya Oshima maintain second spot (594 points) with Korea’s Jeong Youngsik and Lee Sangsu (526) next in line; both pairs have met the four appearance requirement.
Likewise, for Liao Cheng-Ting who won the Under 21 Men’s Singles event in De Haan, there is notable progress; he moves from no.10 to no.5 (404 points) and is thus very much in line for a top eight finish.
Furthermore, for the Under 21 Men’s Singles category, he has met the requirement of competing in four tournaments on two continents to qualify for the Grand Finals. Hong Kong’s Ho Kwan Kit continues to lead the list (877 points).
Meanwhile, as with Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Georgina Pota, for Japan’s Kyoka Kato, the winner of the Under 21 Women’s Singles event in Belgium; December in Doha is a bleak proposition. She moves from no.38 to no.17 (138 points). The Under 21 Women’s Singles Standings continues to be headed by Zeng Jian.
It is the same for Georgina Pota who partnered Russia’s Yulia Prokhorova to Women’s Doubles gold in De Haan; they enter the list at no.25 (100 points).
China’s Ding Ning and Liu Shiwen (1,050 points) continue to head the Women’s Doubles Standings. Notably Ding Ning also leads the Women’s Singles Standings (1,900 points), Ma Long heads the Men’s Singles list (2,100 points).
Monday 26th September: Latest Standings after 2016 ITTF World Tour Belgium Open