by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Editor
New horizons but they are not the only players from the same national association to enjoy their best ever status; it is the same for Sweden.
Kristian Karlsson and Pär Gerell ascend to new horizons. Kristian Karlsson climbs from no.29 to no.22, his previous best being no.26 earlier this year in April, Pär Gerell advances from no.43 to no.27; the prior highest rating for Pär Gerell was four months ago in July when he was listed at no.29.
Likewise, it is new vistas for Poland’s Jakub Dyjas, Finland’s Benedek Olah, Germany’s Benedikt Duda and Romania’s Hunor Szocs.
Jakub Dyjas advances from no.45 to no.36, his previous highest being no.44 in April and September this year. Benedek Olah climbs from no.70 to no.56; Benedikt Duda moves from his prior high of no.83, a position he also held earlier this year in April to no.67.
Meanwhile, Hunor Szocs advances from no.107 to no.87. The previous best for both Benedek Olah and Hunor Szocs was five months ago; in June Benedek Olah was at no.63, Hunor Szocs at no.101.
Notable progress as a result of efforts at the Liebherr 2016 European Championships; it is the same for Portugal’s João Monteiro, Sweden’s Anton Källberg and the Czech Republic’s Dmitrij Prokopcov.
João Monteiro climbs from no.46 to no.34, Anton Källberg from no.88 to no.63; Dmitrij Prokopcov from no.97 to no.77. All approach their highest ever status. João Monteiro reached no.29 in March, July and August 2015, later in the same year Anton Källberg was at no.54, whilst in June 2011, Dmitrij Prokopcov ascended to no.48.
Also, as a direct result of his success at the recent ITTF-Africa Senior Championships, Egypt’s Omar Assar is now at no.49, having previously been at no.57; his prior best is no.29, a position he occupied at the start of the year in January.
Changes but at the very top of the Men’s World Rankings there is no changing of the guard.
China’s Ma Long maintains top place for the 21st consecutive month, the 51st occasion overall; once again he is followed by colleagues Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin and Zhang Jike. Japan’s Jun Mizutani remains at no.6 one place ahead of Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting.
Next in line is Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus who changes places with Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-Yuan; Korea’s Jeoung Youngsik remains at no.10. Pertinently, immediately below there is movement. Germany’s Timo Boll advances two positions to no.11, China’s Fang Bo falls one place to no.12. The player to make way is Portugal’s Marcos Freitas; he drops one place to no.13.
Similarly at the very top of the age group rankings, there is no change but there is a new name.
Fan Zhendong continues to head the Under 21 Men’s World Rankings, with Brazil’s Hugo Calderano once again in second place; Jakub Dyjas climbs from no.6 to no.3 with Japan’s Yuto Muramatsu falling one place to no.4.
The new name is China’s Niu Guanki, the winner of the Cadet Boys’ Singles event at the Asian Junior and Cadet Championships staged in Bangkok in September. He appears at no.3 on the Under 18 Boys’ Rankings and at no.2 on the Under 15 Boys’ Rankings.
Japan’s Tomokazu Harimoto, the player Niu Guanki beat in the Bangkok final, retains top billing on both listings; on the Under 18 Boys’ World Rankings, Korea’s Cho Seungmin remains at no.2 with Yuto Kizukuri, like Tomokazu Harimoto from Japan, dropping one place to no.4.
Similarly, on the Under 15 Boys’ World Rankings, it is one place lower for Yukiya Uda, also from Japan and for Russia’s Vladimir Sidorenko. Yukiya Uda is now at no.3, Vladimir Sidorenko occupies the no.4 spot.
Download: Latest World Rankings