China’s Li Xiaoxia is the new leading lady of table tennis.
She has assumed the position of no.1 on the Women’s World Rankings published by the International Table Tennis Federation on Wednesday 5th November 2008 and in so doing replaces her compatriot Zhang Yining in top spot.
It is the first time in her career that Li Xiaoxia has enjoyed the exalted position, whilst for Zhang Yining it is only the second time since almost six years that her name as not appeared at top of the list.
Zhang Yining gained the no.1 spot in January 2003 and except for the rankings issued on 1st January 2008 she has never relinquished the premier position.
China Dominant
A change at the top but one factor remains very much the same; the dominance of China in the top 10 places. The top five players are all members of the Chinese National Team, whilst the next five were all born in China before moving to foreign shores in search of international competition.
Guo Yue retains her no.3 spot with Guo Yan and Wang Nan changing places at no.4 and no.5; Guo Yan is now at no.4.
Remain the Same
The remaining top ten places remain the same.
Singapore’s Li Jia Wei, Feng Tianwei and Wang Yue Gu occupy places no.6 to no.8, whilst the Hong Kong duo of Tie Yana and Jiang Huajun are at no.9 and no.10 respectively.
Notable Progress
Small changes in terms of numbers but very significant at the very top; however, lower down the top 50 names there are four players who following their efforts at the recent Erke Austrian Open have made notable advances.
Austria’s Liu Jia moves from no.24 to no.14 whilst Poland’s Li Qian, the victor in Salzburg, is now at no. 24 have previously been at no.36.
Similarly, there is progress for Hungary’s Krisztina Toth, the runner up at the Erke Austrian Open. She is now at no.25 having occupied the no.42 place in October whilst for Japan’s Reiko Hiura who overcame Wang Yue Gu en route to the semi-finals there is al so progress.
The young lady from Japan moves from no.53 to no.45.
Few Changes
Changes at the top of the ITTF Women’s Rankings but there are very few changes in the age group lists.
Li Xiaoxia and Guo Yue occupy the top two places in the Under 21 Women’s Rankings with their colleague Cao Zhen moving one place to no. 3; Japan’s Ai Fukuhara drops one place to no.4.
Top Three the Same
Meanwhile, in the Under 18 Girls’ Rankings there are no changes for the top three with Chinese players dominant.
Liu Shiwen is at no.1 followed by Ding Ning and Li Xiaodan whilst in the Under 15 Rankings Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa remains at no.1 with North Korea’s Kim Hye Song still at no.2.
Effect of ITTF Junior Circuit Finals
However, following the ITTF Junior Circuit Finals in Helsingborg Korea’s Yang Ha Eun, who was in superb form against elder adversaries, moves from no.5 to no.3.
She replaces China’s Che Xiao Xi who is now at no.6.
Source: www.ittf.com
