China’s 19 year old Ding Ning, the winner of the Women’s Singles
title at the Kuwait Open in February, is the player to make the most
progress in the higher reaches of the Women’s World Ranking issued by
the International Table Tennis Federation on Wednesday 4th March 2009.
Formerly at no.30, she moves to no.16.
It is notable progress for the young lady who was crowned World Junior champion in December 2005.
Similar to the Men’s Rankings, those who performed well on the ITTF
Pro Tour in the Middle East in February have been rewarded, whilst at
the very top there is only minimal change.
Chinese Top Five
The
Chinese quintet of Zhang Yining, Guo Yue, Li Xiaoxia, Guo Yan and Wang
Nan occupy the respective top five places as they did in February;
whilst for the next in line, the Singapore duo of Feng Tianwei and Li
Jia Wei retain the places. The only change in the top 10 comes one
place below with Korea’s Kim Kyung Ah and Singapore’s Wang Yue Gu
changing places.
Kim Kyung Ah is now at no.8 with Wang Yue Gu at no.9.
Hong Kong’s Tie Yana completes the top 10; she retains her position of one month earlier.
Progress
Progress for Ding Ning and her highest ever women’s ranking is a result of a fine series of wins in Kuwait.
She
accounted for Korea’s Moon Hyun Jung and Lee Eun Hee plus Hong Kong’s
Tie Yana and Jiang Huajun; followed by compatriot Guo Yue in the final
to clinch her first ever ITTF Pro Tour Women’s Singles crown.
Notable advancement for Ding Ning and others also benefitted.
Koreans Progress
Korea’s
Park Mi Young who overcame Tie Yana and Ding Ning in Qatar before
losing to Guo Yue, moves from no.24 to no.19; whilst her compatriots
Seo Hyo Won and Seok Hyo Jung also progress.
Both impressed in
Qatar. Seok Hyo Jung beat Li Jiao of the Netherlands before losing to
China’s Yao Yan, whilst Seo Hyn Won used her defensive skills to good
effect to defeat Japan’s Ai Fukuhara before Ding Ning halted progress.
Seo Hyo Won progresses from no.112 to no.90 whilst Seok Hyo Jung moves from no.61 to no.56.
Tamara Boros
Also,
making progress is Croatia’s Tamara Boros, formerly at no.35, she is
now at no.30; the notable result being victory in Kuwait over Germany’s
Wu Jiaduo before losing to Guo Yue.
Similar
Similarly
there is a higher ranking for Li Jie of the Netherlands; the runner up
in the Liebherr Europe Top 12 she moves to no.24 having been previously
at no.29 whilst Japan’s Mikie Tasei re-enters the rankings
In Qatar she defeated Tamara Boros and colleague Reiko Hiura; she now occupies the no.60 berth.
Under 21 Women’s Rankings
Meanwhile,
in the Under 21 Women’s Rankings Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia retain the top
two places, Liu Shiwen moves from no.4 to no.3, Ding Ning from no.6 to
no.4 with Yao Yan at no.5. Japan’s Ai Fukuhara falls from no.3 to no.6
Chinese names also figure prominently in the Under 18 and Under 15 Girls’ Rankings.
Under 18 Girls’ Rankings
In
the Under 18 list, Liu Shiwen is at no.1 followed by Wu Yang; Japan’s
Kasumi Ishikawa progresses from no.5 to no.3 with Cao Lisi, the
reigning World Junior champion, falling one place to no.4.
Under 15 Girls’ Rankings
Top
spot for Liu Shiwen in the junior list whilst in the Under 15 list that
place is occupied by her compatriot Cheng Meng; she is followed by
Korea’s Yang Ha Eun, the Girls’ Singles champion at the ITTF Junior
Circuit tournaments in both Bahrain and Doha.
Germany’s Petrissa Solja is at no.3.
Source: www.ittf.com
