by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager
Xu Xin remains in the no.4 spot, the position he shared with compatriot Lin Gaoyuan in March; Lin Gaoyuan is now at no.5 being one place ahead of Ma Long, the winner at the recent Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open when he beat Xu Xin in the final. The reigning Olympic and World champion formerly occupied the no.9 spot.
Next in line to the Chinese trio is Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting who drops one place to no.7; he is one position ahead of Korea’s Lee Sangsu who makes a most significant climb. He advances from no.11 to no.8, being ahead of Japan’s Koki Niwa and Frenchman Simon Gauzy who each drop two positions.
Conversely, Jun Mizutani, also from Japan and Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, the quite sensational to runner up to Fan Zhendong at the Seamaster 2018 ITTF World Tour Platinum Qatar Open, each climb three places to respectively complete the top 12 names.
Major progress, lower down the order of preference there is even greater progress for Sweden’s Mattias Karlsson, China’s Fang Bo, Croatia’s Andrej Gacina and India’s Sharath Kamal Achanta.
Mattias Karlsson climbs from no. 31 to no.20, Fang Bo from no.48 to no.31 and Andrej Gacina from no.52 to no.39; likewise Sharath Kamal Achanta advances from no.70 no.48. Notably, in addition, Korea’s Jeoung Youngsik now appears just outside the top 50 names; previously at no.90, he now occupies the no.53 spot.
However, there is one significant fall, former world no.1, Vladimir Samsonov drops from no.24 to no.37; certainly the lowest position he has occupied for over two decades.
A change at the top of the Men’s World Rankings, there is also a change at the top of the Under 21 Men’s World Rankings but not in the Under 18 Boys’ or Under 15 Boys’ listing.
Korea’s Lim Junghoon climbs one place to head the Under 21 Men’s order of merit and replaces Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa who drops to no.3; also from Japan, Yuto Kizukuri remains in the no.2 spot.
Meanwhile, on the Under 18 Boys’ Rankings, the top three remain the same; Kanak Jha of the United States remains in first place ahead of India’s Manav Vikash Thakkar and China’s Wang Chuqin.
Similarly, on the counterpart Under 15 Boys’ World Rankings, likewise the top three names remain the same. Chinese Taipei’s Feng YiHsin continues in first place ahead of Panama’s Jacobo Vahnish and Egypt’s Mohamed Azzam.
Monday 2nd April: Latest World Rankings