Chen Meng has disappeared from the WTT women's singles world ranking list, which reminds me of the time when she held the number one spot for many years. Back then, watching her play, I always saw her calm and composed demeanor. Now that she's suddenly off the list, it feels like something is missing.
After Chen Meng's withdrawal from the WTT rankings, the entire women's table tennis landscape is quietly changing. Sun Yingsha occupies the top spot with a high score of 9900 points. This score might not have been considered particularly high in the past, but in the current period, it stands out as exceptionally brilliant.
Wang Manyu and Wang Yidi are also showing increasing stability in their performances, ranking second and third with scores of 8700 and 5005 points respectively. Although the point difference looks quite significant, it's actually possible to catch up within just a few matches.
Chen Xingtong now ranks fourth with 3725 points. Although there's still a noticeable gap between her and the top three, her recent state has been steadily improving, and it's possible that she could surprise everyone someday.
Japan's Hina Hayata and Miyuu Higa rank fifth and sixth with scores of 3363 and 3305 points respectively, indicating that Japan's team strength is indeed not to be underestimated.
Saya Todo ranks seventh with 2518 points. For a young player, this achievement is already quite commendable. Her playing style is quite distinctive, and she always manages to excel at critical moments.
Yi-Jing Cheng and Yu-Bin Shin rank eighth and ninth with scores around 2300 points. Both of these players are veterans, and it's truly remarkable that they can maintain such a level.
Mima Ito ranks tenth with only 2190 points. This result may not be entirely satisfying for her, but being able to re-enter the top ten marks a good start for her.
With more and more competitions nowadays, athletes often have to engage in continuous battles. Such a dense schedule is indeed exhausting, especially for veterans who have participated in numerous matches over the years.
Chen Meng and Fan Zhendong's decision to withdraw is also a way for them to express their dissatisfaction with the current situation. After all, athletes are human too, and they need rest and adjustment.
The current approach of the WTT does seem to prioritize commercial interests a bit too much. While more matches can bring in greater revenue, it would be counterproductive if it harms the athletes' health.
The issue of athletes' prize money is also a concern. Since there are more matches, the prize money should correspondingly increase; it's not right to focus solely on making money without considering the athletes' feelings.
This incident might prompt the WTT to reconsider their approach. After all, losing top athletes like Chen Meng is not beneficial for the development of table tennis as a whole.
Qian Tianyi currently ranks 11th. Although she hasn't yet entered the top ten, she has shown great potential, and it's believed that her ranking will improve in due course.
He Zhuojia and Fan Siqui rank 35th and 36th respectively. There's still room for improvement in their results, but they are both young, and the road ahead is long.
Chen Yi and Shi Xunyao's rankings are around 40th. Although their current rankings aren't high, their performances in training have been excellent, and it's believed that they will progress faster through competitive experience.
Kuaiman ranks 44th. There's still some disparity between her results and her abilities, possibly because she hasn't participated in many matches and hasn't had many opportunities to score points.
The national table tennis team is currently preparing for the Los Angeles Olympics, with young players actively training in hopes of delivering strong performances in major competitions.
These young athletes are all very talented. Although their current rankings may not be particularly ideal, as long as they are given time and opportunities, it's believed that they can grow into outstanding athletes.
Seeing Chen Meng withdraw from the rankings is indeed somewhat emotional, but this is also an inevitable process in the development of the table tennis world. Every athlete has their golden era.
Young athletes need more opportunities to prove themselves, while veterans also need to make reasonable plans and choices for their careers.
The national table tennis team has always been cultivating new talent, and the current examples of Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu are the best illustrations; they have grown into world-class athletes.
It's hoped that the WTT can learn from this incident and, while pursuing commercial interests, also consider the athletes' feelings more, as the athletes are the core of this sport after all.