Winner of the Men’s Singles title at the Harmony China Open in Suzhou on Sunday 22nd August, his first ever such success on the ITTF Pro Tour, China’s Zhang Jike has now established a new landmark in his career.

He is listed at no.3 on the Men’s World Rankings, published by the International Table Tennis Federation on Thursday 2nd September 2010; it is the highest status of his career, having previously occupied the no.5 spot.

The stylish 22 year old is one of six Chinese players listed in the top ten.

Six out of Ten
Ma Long and Ma Lin both retain their positions; the former at no.1, the latter at no.4; similarly, there is no change for Wang Liqin. He remains at no.6.

However, for Wang Hao and Xu Xin, there are changes.

Wang Hao, the reigning Men’s Singles World champion, falls from no.3 to no.5 with Xu Xin climbing one place to no.8.

Six out of Eight
The ranking reflect the immense strength of table tennis in China with the likes of Zhang Jike and Xu Xin being relatively new arrivals on the senior scene; the main challenge to Chinese hegemony comes from the established stars.

Interlopers
Germany’s Timo Boll retains his position as does Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus, the former is at no.2, the latter at no.7; they are the two interlopers in the top eight.

Not only is it six out of ten for China, it is six out of eight; quite incredible.

The remaining two places in the top ten are completed by Korea’s Joo Se Hyuk and Japan’s Jun Mizutani.

Joo Se Hyuk moves from no.10 to no.9 with Jun Mizutani falling from no.8 to no.10.

Korean Challenge
Certainly, the 21 year old Jun Mizutani is a player who can threaten the supremacy of China as in the foreseeable future, Korea’s Kim Min Seok and Jung Young Sik, are proving they are players able to keep the elite of China on their toes.

Both climb the rankings; Kim Min Seok moves from no.65 to no.51 with Jung Young Young Sik climbing from no.76 to no.34; it is for Jung Young Sik the highest world ranking of his career and a reward for his efforts on the ITTF Pro Tour in August.

He won the Under 21 Men’s Singles title at both the KRA Korean Open and the Harmony China Open whilst in the former he was a Men’s Singles quarter-finalist.

Aspiring Young Players
Progress for aspiring Koreans and there is also progress for three other aspiring young men.

Hungary’s Janos Jakab moves from no.71 to no.57, Japan’s Kazuhiro Chan from no.133 to no.75 and Chinese Taipei’s Wu Chih-Chi from no.122 to no.100.

Casualties
Notable progress but the rules of mathematics mean there must be notable casualties; Korea’s Seo Hyun Deok falls from no.53 to no.78 and Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira also suffers. Formerly at no.52, he is now at no.67.

Changes at Top
Higher rankings on the Men’s list for both Xu Xin and Jung Young Sik means higher positions on the age group listings.

Xu Xin replaces Jun Mizutani in top place on the Under 21 Men’s Rankings with Jung Young Sik climbing from no.6 to no.3.

Likewise on the Under 18 Boys’ Rankings Jung Young Sik changes places with Kim Min Seok and moves from no.2 to no.1 with Japan’s Koki Niwa advancing from no.4 to no.3.

Suffering
The principal players to suffer are Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira, on the Under 21 Men’s Rankings he falls from no.3 to no.6 with China’s Fang Bo, the reigning World Junior champion, dropping from no.3 to no.5 on the Under 18 Boys’ list.

China Supreme
However, on the Under 15 Boys’ Rankings there is no change at the top with China once again demonstrating its immense strength.

They occupy the top three places once again with Zhang Peifeng at no.1 followed by Lin Gaoyuan and Wu Jiayi.

Whatever the age, whatever the gender, China sets the standards, new standards, high standards, very high standards indeed and it is set to continue; of that there seems no doubt.

Source: www.ittf.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YayD6jsrJoc

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