China’s Ma Long and Ding Ning, the two players who began the New Year in the coveted top place on the respective Men’s and Women’s World Rankings, head the seeding for the Men’s and Women’s Singles events at the Hungarian Open in Budapest, the tournament which starts the GAC GROUP 2012 World Tour.

Matters commence in the Hungarian capital city on Tuesday 17th January, with the qualification stages of the singles events, the conclusion being on Saturday 21st January when the champions are anointed.

Champions named, will the names be Ma Long and Ding Ning?

Amazing Run
There is sufficient evidence to suggest that will be the situation but they face strong opposition and, as so often in 2011, that opposition comes from their colleagues.

Can Ma Long continue his amazing run of form? In early June 2011, he was beaten by compatriot Ma Lin in the final of the Men’s Singles event at the Volkswagen China Open in Shenzhen; since that date, in international competition, he has never lost a Men’s Singles match!

Next-in-Line
Next on the seeding is Zhang Jike, followed by Wang Hao and Zhang Jike.

Against both Ma Long must feel confident.

Three in a Row
He accounted for Wang Hao at the semi-final stage of the Men’s Singles event at the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals in London last November, before recording his third win in a row against Zhang Jike. 

Earlier in the year at the Harmony China Open in August and at the Austrian Open one month later, Ma Long had beaten Zhang Jike in the final.

In 2011, Zhang Jike seemingly was able to beat everybody on planet earth, except Ma Long!

The Very Opposite
It was an incredibly successful end to the year for Ma Long, for Ma Lin it was the exact opposite.

He could not put a foot right in the last four months of the year; in Budapest he will be looking to dispel the demons and start 2011 on a winning note.

Liking for January
Starting on a winning note; there are two players in the Men’s Singles event in Hungary, who are rather good at that skill and at winning in January.

One year ago, Xu Xin was crowned champion in Slovenia; one week later to bring the first month of the year to a close, Chen Qi succeeded in England. 

In Budapest, Xu Xin is the no.4 seed, one place ahead of Ma Lin, Chen Qi is the no.7 seed, one behind Korea’s Joo Se Hyuk and one place ahead of Singapore’s Gao Ning.

Same Scenario
Six of the top eight seeds in the Men’s Singles are from China; in the counterpart Women’s Singles competition it is the same scenario.

Li Xiaoxia, Guo Yan, Liu Shiwen and Wu Yang are next-in-line to Ding Ning with Fan Ying being the no.7 seed sandwiched between the Singaporean duo of Li Jiawei and Sun Beibei.

Crowned World Champion
The year 2011 was the year of Ding Ning, three Women’s Singles titles on the ITTF Pro Tour, the winner of the Volkswagen Women’s World Cup and, in Rotterdam, crowned World champion.

It could hardly have been better; the only major title to elude her grasp was the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals title, beaten by Liu Shiwen in the final.

Remember Me
The win recorded by Liu Shiwen was very much a reminder in a year when she had been overshadowed by Ding Ning; having been listed at no.1 on the Women’s World Rankings in September 2010, she had slipped down the list and had been overtaken by her eight months elder colleague.

Certainly it was a timely win with the Olympic Games in mind but if there are two players who need wins, it is the two who have already qualified for the London Olympic Games.

Li Xiaoxia
Li Xiaoxia has not won a Women’s Singles event on the ITTF Pro Tour since succeeding in Suzhou in August 2010 at the Harmony China Open. 

Guo Yan
Meanwhile, although Guo Yan won three Women’s Singles titles on the ITTF Pro Tour in 2011, she missed out on two big occasions.

At the GAC GROUP 2011 World Championships, she suffered a quarter-final defeat at the hands of Liu Shiwen, at the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals she was beaten at the same stage by Singapore’s Wang Yuegu.

A Defender to Delight
A point to prove and can a defender prove the point that a player with that style can win major titles?

Fan Ying won in 2009 in Poland as did Wu Yang two years later. Also, Fan Ying was the player who made the best start to 2011; she won the Women’s Singles title at the Slovenian Open.

Ignited Memorable Year
However, one week later in England, the champion was Ding Ning; it was the win to ignite a memorable year. 

Could the same happen in Budapest? 

Live for Ever
Whatever, one fact is certain; with the inauguration of the GAC GROUP 2012 World Tour, with a prize fund of US$2,500,000 and the Olympic Games, the year 2012 will be one to remember and remember for ever more.

Remember where it started, a country with a proud table tennis heritage, it started in Hungary.

Source: http://www.ittf.com/_front_page/ittf_full_story1.asp?ID=26589&Category=General&Competition_ID=&

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