Notably the top 14 names on the September women’s world rankings are all on duty; moreover, all could well be in action in Zhengzhou.

China’s Chen Meng, Ding Ning and Zhu Yuling followed by colleagues Wang Manyu, Liu Shiwen and Sun Yingsha occupy the top six seeded places. Next in line is the Japanese trio of Mima Ito, Kasumi Ishikawa and Miu Hirano. Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching is the no.10 seed, being pursued by Hong Kong’s Doo Hi Kem, Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, China’s Chen Xingtong and Korea Republic’s Suh Hyowon.

Heads standings

Sun Yingsha, devastating at the recent ITTF-ATTU Asian Championships in Yogyakarta heads the women’s singles standings (1,319 points), two platinum level tournaments to follow the Swedish Open, Germany and Austria being the destinations, she is home and dry. It is the same for the next on the list Chen Meng (1,300 points), Wang Manyu (1,051 points) and Liu Shiwen (779 points) as well as for Ding Ning (775 points) and Mima Ito (760 points).

Similarly in realistic terms, Chen Xingtong at no.7 (739 points) is well set as is Miu Hirano (570 points), Kasumi Ishikawa (466 points) and Zhu Yuling (406 points), the players who complete the top ten names on the women’s singles standings.

Need good performances

Looking ahead with high hopes but for Cheng I-Ching, Doo Hoi Kem, Feng Tianwei and Suh Hyowon, they need to exceed expectations in Stockholm in order to enhance their chances of a Zhengzhou place. A total of 16 players competing in the women’s singles event at the Grand Finals; Feng Tanwei, listed on the standings at no.14 (271 points) and Cheng I-Ching (254 points) are all above the waterline, for Doo Hoi Kem and Suh Hyowon, there is very hard work ahead, Doo Hoi Kem stands in the no.19 spot (165 points), Suh Hyowon at no.21 (146 points).

Perhaps not a mountain to climb but a very steep hill; the reason being that of the top 16 players on the current ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles Standings only one player does not appear on the Stockholm entry list; the absentee is China’s He Zhuojia named at no.12 (338 points).

Required to qualify

Notably, Wang Yidi, also from China, listed at no.11 (383 points), appears on the entry list and like Japan’s Hitomi Sato and Korea Republic’s Jeon Jihee must compete on the opening days of play.

On the standings, Hitomi Sato is named at no.13 (279 points), Jeon Jihee at no.16 (234 points).

Required to qualify in Stockholm, the question posed is will they qualify for Zhengzhou; Sweden provides a guide, Germany makes matters ever clearer, Austria holds the answers.

2019 ITTF World Tour Standings: Prior to commencement of Swedish Open