Recently, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) announced the latest world rankings. Among the five individual events, the Chinese table tennis team has taken three of them. Compared to the previous period, China has lost another world number one!
In the men's singles, Wang Chuqin and Lin Shidong are ranked first and second! Wang Chuqin leading is not surprising. Lin Shidong, on the other hand, has won the singles titles in five consecutive competitions after the Paris Olympics, including the Chinese Grand Slam title. Lin Shidong's world ranking has soared, currently ranked second. Liang Jingkun and Lin Gaoyuan are ranked fifth and ninth respectively. Among foreign association players, Japanese star Zhang Jike is ranked third. Xiaolei Lun is ranked fourth, with Hugo, Moregad, and Franziska ranked sixth to eighth.
In the women's singles rankings, Sun Yingsha leads, followed by Wang Manyu, Wang Yidi, and Chen Xingtong ranked second to fourth. Japanese players Hina Hayata, Miyuu Higa, and others are ranked fifth to seventh. In the mixed doubles event, Olympic champions Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha remain at the top of the world rankings, with the Lin Shidong and Kuai Man combination ranked third, and Lin Gaoyuan and Wang Yidi ranked eighth.
In the men's doubles, before the year-end finals, the Chinese pair of Xiang Peng and Yuan Licen were ranked first. After the year-end finals, the French Lebrun brothers topped the world rankings after winning the year-end finals. In this issue's world rankings, the Lebrun brothers still lead.
It is worth noting that we have lost the world number one in the women's doubles combination. Previously, the Wang Manyu and Chen Meng combination led the women's doubles rankings. This time, the South Korean pair of Ji Na Jeon and Yu Bin Shin lead the women's doubles rankings. Qian Tianyi and Chen Xingtong are ranked third, while Sun Yingsha and Wang Yidi are ranked seventh.
In fact, it is very normal for the national table tennis women's doubles to lose the world number one. After all, Chen Meng has officially announced her withdrawal from the world rankings. Chen Meng is no longer on the women's singles world rankings! Similarly, Chen Meng has also withdrawn from the women's doubles event! Additionally, Ma Long and Fan Zhendong did not appear in this world ranking. Because all three have withdrawn from the world rankings.
Speaking of the withdrawal of the three Olympic champions Chen Meng, Fan Zhendong, and Ma Long from the world rankings, the main reason is the new WTT regulations where non-participation results in fines, which is unacceptable. The original prize money for participating was already pitifully low, and the amount of the fine for non-participation is very high. It is precisely because of this that Fan Zhendong and the other two officially withdrew from the world rankings.
Their withdrawal has a significant impact, and the ITTF has specially arranged a five-person investigation team to conduct research on the WTT rules. However, the final outcome is not expected to be released quickly. After all, it is an internal investigation, and it is estimated to be all bark and no bite! Can Fan Zhendong and the other three return to the stage of world competitions? Looking forward to future developments!