Chinese youth topples old guard in rankings

Men's and women's world singles champions Wang Hao and Zhang Yining have both been knocked off the top of the world table tennis rankings by younger Chinese compatriots. Zhang, the most successful female player of the past decade with four gold medals...

Men's and women's world singles champions Wang Hao and Zhang Yining have both been knocked off the top of the world table tennis rankings by younger Chinese compatriots.

Zhang, the most successful female player of the past decade with four gold medals from the Athens and Beijing Olympics, had occupied the number one spot for all but two months since January 2003.

Liu Shiwen, 18, took the number one spot yesterday on the back of becoming the youngest singles champion at the annual World Cup last October, less than a year after entering the top 10.

Ma Long, 21, had maintained a position in the world top three since March last year and his victory at the tournament of champions last month elevated him to the men's top spot for the first time.

China continues to dominate the sport with eight of the top 10 women and six of the men's top 10 all coming from the world's most populous country.

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