Published: 14:31, October 15, 2024
China's prodigy Lin rises to career-high No 2 in ITTF world rankings
By Xinhua
Lin Shidong hits a return during the men's singles final match between Lin Shidong of China and Harimoto Tomokazu of Japan at the 27th ITTF-Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, Oct 13, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Chinese paddler Lin Shidong, 19, has climbed to a career-high second place in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world rankings released on Tuesday.

Lin's rise follows his runner-up finish in the men's singles event at the Asian Championships, which concluded on Sunday. This achievement earned him 350 ranking points, allowing him to surpass compatriot Fan Zhendong, who has not competed in any international tournaments since winning gold at the Paris Olympics.

Additionally, Lin helped China secure the men's team title and won the mixed doubles crown alongside Kuai Man at the Asian Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. The young Chinese pair rose to third in the mixed doubles rankings.

ALSO READ: Chinese duo wins mixed doubles title at Asian Table Tennis Championships

Wang Chuqin of China serves during the men's singles quarterfinal match between Wang Chuqin of China and Cho Daeseong of South Korea at the 2024 World Table Tennis (WTT) Champions Macao on Sept 13, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Liang Jingkun of China eyes the ball during a game against Kristian Karlsson of Sweden at the ITTF World Cup Macao 2024 in Macao on April 17, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Ma Long of China hits a return during the men's singles final match against Lin Shidong of China at 2024 World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash in Beijing, China, Oct 6, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Wang Chuqin continues to hold the top spot in the men's rankings, followed by fellow Chinese players Liang Jingkun and Ma Long, who sit in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Other players in the top 10 include Hugo Calderano from Brazil, French teenager Felix Lebrun, Asian champion Tomokazu Harimoto from Japan, China's Lin Gaoyuan, and Sweden's Truls Moregard.

Sun Yingsha (right)/Wang Yidi compete during the women's doubles semifinal match between Sun Yingsha/Wang Yidi of China and Li Yu-Jhun/Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei at 2024 World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash in Beijing, China, Oct 4, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Wang Manyu of China hits a return to her wildcard compatriot Shi Xunyao during the the women's singles first round at the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash in Beijing, capital of China, on Sept 30, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
Chen Meng of China hits a return against Harimoto Miwa of Japan during the women's singles quarterfinal at WTT Saudi Smash 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, May 9, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

In the women's singles rankings, China's quartet of Sun Yingsha, Wang Manyu, Chen Meng, and Wang Yidi continue to dominate the top four positions.

Japan's Hina Hayata, China's Chen Xingtong, Japan's Miwa Harimoto and Mima Ito, South Korea's Shin Yu-bin, and Cheng I-ching from Chinese Taipei round out the top 10.

READ MORE: Lin Shidong, Sun Yingsha win all-Chinese finals at WTT China Smash

With 500 points from her victory at the Asian Championships, Kim Kum-yong from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea jumped an impressive 452 places to reach world No 57.