China’s Ma Long and Ding Ning start the New Year exactly where they ended the old; both retain top spot on the respective Men’s and Women’s World Rankings, issued by the International Table Tennis Federation on Tuesday 3rd January 2012.

It is the sixteenth time that Ma Long has held the coveted position, as for Ding Ning; it is the fourth time that her name has appeared in first place when the monthly listings have been published.

Furthermore, both represent the new generation of Chinese players; they are players who have risen to stardom in recent years, both having benefitted from the ITTF Global Junior Programme, both having been crowned World Junior champions.

First Appearance
Ma Long first appeared on the World Rankings in October 2003 at no.300, following his inaugural appearance on the ITTF Junior Circuit.

In September 2003, he reached the semi-final stage of the Junior Boys’ Singles event at the New Zealand Junior and Cadet Open in Wellington. He lost to the eventual winner; a certain Zhang Jike, who retains his no.2 spot on the newly published Men’s World Rankings.

Success in Kobe
Later in the year in December, Ma Long impressed at the first ever World Junior Championships in Santiago, before in 2004 securing the Boys’ Singles title when the event was held in the Japanese city of Kobe.

Assumed Number One Spot
In January 2010, following extensive success on the ITTF Pro Tour, he rose to no.1 on the Men’s Rankings, a place he maintained throughout the year until in January 2011, when superseded by Wang Hao. 

However, later in the year in October, he regained the top spot and has maintained the exalted place ever since; the run of form in the last six months of the year seeing him unbeaten in international competition.

Similar
Meanwhile, for Ding Ning, the path to glory is similar but more recent.

She first appeared on the Women’s World Rankings in August 2004, following her appearance in the Asian Junior Championships, where she lost to compatriot Feng Yalan in the Junior Girls’ Singles final; one year later she was crowned World Junior champion in Linz, her arrival had been announced.

Top Ten Place
In July 2009 she entered the top ten of the Women’s World Rankings, before in 2011 enjoying a year she will never forget.

Success on the ITTF Pro Tour was followed by being crowned World champion and World Cup winner. The result was that in October 2011, she assumed the top spot and has never relinquished the precious position.

Quiet Month
No change at the top and in both the Men’s and Women’s Rankings, it is very much the same in the ensuing places, after a hectic November, the month of December was comparatively quiet in the international arena.

On the Men’s World Rankings, Wang Hao retains third place behind colleagues Ma Long and Zhang Jike with Germany’s Timo Boll, once again in fourth place. The Chinese trio of Xu Xin, Wang Liqin and Ma Lin occupy the next three respective places with Korea’s Joo Se Hyuk changing places with Japan’s Jun Mizutani to assume to no.8 spot.

Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov completes the top ten.

Likewise One Change
Similarly, in the Women’s World Rankings there is just one change in the top ten. Singapore’s Wang Yuegu climbs one place to no.7 with Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa dropping one place to no.8.

The Chinese trio of Li Xiaoxia, Guo Yan and Liu Shiwen are next-in-line to Ding Ning with Singapore’s Feng Tianwei at no.5. Guo Yue retains sixth place with Japan’s Ai Fukuhara and Hong Kong’s Tie Yana completing the top ten.

Ai Fukuhara remains at no.9 with Tie Yana at no.10.

Source: http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story1.asp?ID=26551&Category=General&Competition_ID=&

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