Chen Meng, who started the year at no.4, is listed ahead of colleagues Liu Shiwen, Ding Ning, Zhu Yuling and Wang Manyu. It is a climb of two places for Liu Shiwen, a drop of two for Ding Ning and Wang Manyu; for Zhu Yuling she advances one position.

Next in line is the Japanese duo of Kasumi Ishikawa at no.6 and Mima Ito at no.7; they retain their May rankings as do the next in the order of merit, Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching and Miu Hirano, also from Japan. Similarly, Korea’s Republic’s Suh Hyowon remains at no.10, followed once again by Hong Kong’s Doo Hoi Kem and Singapore’s Feng Tianwei who complete the top 12 names.

Notably amongst the leading names, DPR Korea’s Kim Song I who started the year at no.22, climbs from no.19 to no.14; Romania’s Bernadette Szocs from no.20 to no.16 and thus enjoys the highest status of her career, her previous best was no.17 earlier this year in April.

Meanwhile, further down the order, there is notable progress for Ukraine; Margaryta Pesotska, the runner up in May at the Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Series Slovenia Open climbs from no.48 to no.41, Tetyana Bilenko from no.93 to no.79.

However, the name to note is that of Japan’s 14 year old Miyuu Kihara, the winner at the last month’s Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Series Croatia Open. She moves from no.80 to no.60 and thus achieves a career high; her previous best being no.79 in April 2018.

Also making significant progress and entering the top 100 names, DPR Korea’s Kim Nam Hae advances from no.107 to no.90 and enjoys a new high, Chile’s Paulina Vega from no.111 to no.97 and Melanie Diaz from no.101 to no.92.

The elevation of Melanie Diaz also means that there are two sets of sisters in the top 100 of the women’s world rankings, younger sister Adriana Diaz is listed at no.28; also Germany’s Petrissa Solja is at no.26, elder sister Amelia Solja, who represents Austria, stands at no.67.

Notable achievements and for the Diaz family a special reason to celebrate, for both Adriana and Melanie it is the highest listing of their careers.

June 2019: World Ranking Lists