Few Changes in World Rankings but Next Month It Could be Very Different

The World Ranking published at the beginning of June 2006 show few changes in the leading positions, with the top ten places in the Women’s Rankings remaining the same.

Meanwhile, in the Men’s Rankings, Chinese Taipei’s Chuan Chih-Yuan and Austria’s Werner Schlager move into the top ten, they are ranked equal tenth. China’s Hao Shuai is the man to exit the top ten, he drops two places to number twelve.

China’s Wang Liqin retains his number one ranked position on the men’s list whilst in the women’s rankings; Wang Liqin’s compatriot heads the order.

ITTF Pro Tour
The lack of movement is to be understood. May 2006 was the month following the 2006 Liebherr World Team Table Tennis Championships. It will be next ranking list where changes may well be more evident in the leading positions, as a series of ITTF Pro Tour tournaments take place in Asia and Latin America.

Already, after the first of these, the Volkswagen Open Korea, results that may well see changes have already occurred. Ranked no.29 on the Men’s World Rankings prior to the tournament in Korea is Joo Se Hyuk; on home soil he won the Men’s Singles event and having beaten compatriot Ryu Seung Min, the world no.8 plus Austria’s Chen Weixing, world no.9; he can expect a higher ranking when the new list is published in July 2006.

Reward
Also, the man he beat in the final at the Volkswagen Open Korea can expect reward for his efforts, Damien Eloi of France. He beat Oh Sang Eun, the player ranked no.7 in the world and a higher place than his current ranking of no.47 may well be the outcome in July.

Strides
Meanwhile, on the women’s rankings, Hong Kong’s Tie Yana, ranked no.6 in the world did her chances of progress no harm whatsoever by winning the Women’s Singles event in Korea but the two players who may well make the greatest strides are Wang Yue Gu of Singapore and Park Mi Young of Korea.

Wang Yue Gu, who currently appears at no.25, on the women’s ranking may well progress higher whilst for Park Mi Young, her win over world no.4, Singapore’s Li Jia Wei in Korea, has done her prospects of a higher ranking in July 2006 no harm whatsoever. She is currently ranked no.49 on the women’s list and a higher position most certainly beckons.

Busy
A busy period on the international calendar now lies ahead with ITTF Pro Tour tournaments being staged in Chinese Taipei, China, Brazil and Chile; the results of these events plus the recently completed Volkswagen Open Korea could well ring changes when the next rankings are published in July 2006.