In the doldrums since winning the Men’s Singles event at the Croatian Open in January 2007, China’s 25 year old Hao Shuai is the player to make the most noticeable progress in the higher echelons on the Men’s World Rankings, published by the International Table Tennis Federation on Tuesday 14th October 2008.
Formerly at no. 20, he jumps ten places to no.10; the reason for the progress being a tremendous performance at the Panasonic China Open staged in Shanghai in early September.
Beat the Best
He won his second career ITTF Pro Tour Men’s Singles title, beating Ma Long in the quarters-finals, Ma Lin at the penultimate stage and in the final, the top seed, Wang Hao.
Quite simply when Hao Shuai wins, he wins when the best are in action; when he won in Croatia, the vast majority of the world’s stars were present; the reason they wanted to experience playing in the venue that would be the home for the Liebherr World Championships a few months later.
Varying Fortunes
Progress for Hao Shuai and also in the Men’s Rankings there is noticeable progress for Kalinikos Kreanga of Greeece.
Fourth place in the Liebherr Men’s World Cup where he recorded a very creditable win against Timo Boll in his opening encounter, he moves from no. 18 to no. 14.
However, for Gao Ning who was also on duty at the Liebherr Men’s World Cup it is not good news. Beaten by Segun Toriola, Kalinikos Kreanga and Timo Boll in Liège, he drops from no. 12 to no. 18.
Two Players Make Strides
Notable progress for Hao Shuai and Kalinikos Kreanga in the men’s list and similarly in the female standings, two players make strides.
The evergreen Gao Jun of the United States moves from no. 17 to no. 12 following a fine performance at the Volkswagen Women’s World Cup in September where she beat Li Jia Wei whilst China’s Fan Ying climbs from no. 23 to no. 17.
Impressive Form
Fan Ying was in impressive form at the Panasonic China Open where she beat Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, a player who, largely as a result of her win over Guo Yue at the Volkswagen Women’s World Cup, advances two places from no. 9 to no. 7.
A New Number One
In the Under 21 lists for both men and women, the top three remain the same and likewise that is the situation in the Under Girls’ Rankings but for the Under Boys there is a change.
China’s Xu Xin, the left handed penholder who beat Wang Liqin at the Panasonic China Open moves from no. 3 to no. 1.
The effect is that Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira falls one place to no. 2, whilst Singapore’s Ma Liang is now at no. 3. Previously he occupied the no. 3 place.
No Change
China’s Ma Long heads the Under 21 Men’s Rankings followed by Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Japan’s Jun Mizutani whilst for the women the top three order sees China’s Li Xiaoxia, Guo Yue occupy the top two places with Japan’s Ai Fukuhara at no.3.
Similarly, in the Under 18 Girls’ Rankings, China is to the fore, they occupy the first three places with the respective order being Liu Shiwen, Ding Ning and Li Xiaodan.
Remain the Same
Meanwhile in the Men’s Rankings the top nine names all remain the same with Korea’s Oh Sang being the player to make way for Hao Shuai. He moves from no. 10 to no. 12.
The Chinese quartet of Wang Hao, Ma Lin, Ma Long and Wang Liqin occupy the top four places with Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus in fifth place. China’s Chen Qi and Germany’s Timo Boll change places; the former is now at no. 7 and the latter at no. 6.
Korea’s Ryu Seung Min and Joo Se Hyk occupy positions no. 8 and no. 9 respectively.
Several Changes
Only two changes from the September order for the men but for the women there are more.
Chinese players occupy the top five places. Zhang Yining retains top spot, Li Xiaoxia and Guo Yue change places with Li Xiaoxia now at no. 2 and Guo Yue at no.3. Wang Nan remains at no. 4 as does Guo Yan at no. 5.
Good News for Tie Yana
Singapore’s Li Jia Wei is at no. 6 as in September with colleague Feng Tianwei one place lower ahead of another Singaporean Wang Yue Gu and the Hong Kong duo of Tie Yana and Jiang Huajun.
Wang Yue Gu drops one place to no. 8, Jiang Huajun falls two places to no. 10. However for Tie Yana it is better news. She climbs one place to no. 9.
Source: www.ittf.com
