by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications
On each occasion it was Hitomi Sato who prevailed in the title decider. She moves from no.18 to no.9; Honoka Hashimoto climbs from no.34 to no.22. The previous best for both players was earlier this year in February; Hitomi Sato was at no.17, Honoka Hashimoto occupied the no.34 spot.
Furthermore, it means that in the top 12 of the Women’s World Rankings, there are four Japanese names; not one of them is the ever popular Ai Fukuhara who has not competed internationally since the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and thus her status has lapsed.
Kasumi Ishikawa remains at no.4; Mima Ito at no.8; whilst Miu Hirano drops two places and is now in the no.11 position.
Equally, Japanese names dominate the age group listings.
Mima Ito heads both the Under 21 Women’s and Under 18 Girls’ World Rankings; on the former she is pursued by Hitomi Sato and Miu Hirano; on the latter by Miu Hirano and Hina Hayata.
It is very much the same on the Under 15 Girls’ World Rankings; Miyu Nagasaki and Miyuu Kihara continue in the respective top two places with Crystal Wang of the United States remaining the next in line.
Four players for Japan amongst the very elite names on the Women’s World Rankings; it is the same number for China. When was the last time a national association was the equal of China in the top 12 names; the last century!
Ding Ning retains top spot for the seventh consecutive month, the 42nd in her career since assailing the pinnacle in November 2011. She is followed by Zhu Yuling with Chen Meng at no.5 and Wu Yang at no.10; it is the status quo for Wu Yang, for Chen Meng a climb of two places.
Once again the names of Liu Shiwen and Li Xiaoxia do not appear, the former owing international absence; the latter as a result of announcing retirement.
The remaining places amongst the highest rated belong to Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching, Germany’s Han Ying and Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem.
Feng Tianwei remains static at no.3; Cheng I-Ching drops one place to no.6. Similarly for Han Ying, now at no.7, it is one place lower, whilst for Doo Hoi Kem it is a fall of two positions. She is now in the no.12 position.
World Rankings: Tuesday 4th April
World Rankings: Basic Description
World Rankings: Rating Points and Bonus Points Tables
World Rankings: Ranking Default Policy for No Show
World Rankings: Policy for Inclusion in 2017 ITTF Calendar