Seamaster 2016 ITTF Women’s World Cup

Players Biographies

#ITTFWorldCup Page 1

FENG Tianwei (SGP)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Asian Cup Bronze

Current World Ranking: 6

Seed: 1

Age: 30

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 8

Best WC Result: 2013 Bronze

Highlights of career: 2010 World Team Champion, Beijing 2008 Olympic Team Silver, London 2012 Olympic Singles Bronze

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Mandarin

Interesting story: Feng was talent scouted in Japan by then Singapore’s coach Liu Guodong in 2007. She led the Singapore team to greater heights by winning the Olympic Team Silver in 2008, and also the World Team Champion in 2010.

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CHENG I-Ching (TPE)

Qualification: Substitute

Current World Ranking: 8

Seed: 2

Age: 24

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 3

Best WC Result: 2015 Round of 16

Highlights of career: 2016 World Championships Team Bronze

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Mandarin

Interesting story: 2016 has been a relatively good year for Cheng as she breaks into the Top 10 ranks for the first time, and also reaching the quarterfinals at the Rio Olympics in her first outing.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 3

Mima ITO (JPN)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Asian Cup 6th place

Current World Ranking: 11

Seed: 3

Age: 15

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: Rio 2016 Olympic Team Bronze

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Japanese

Interesting story: Ito became the youngest player to ever win an Olympic medal when she won the Team Bronze medal at the Rio Olympics for the Japan team. She was awarded the 2015 Breakthrough Star Award at the ITTF Star Awards last year.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 4

Petrissa SOLJA (GER)

Qualification: Substitute

Current World Ranking: 16

Seed: 4

Age: 22

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 3

Best WC Result: 2015 Bronze

Highlights of career: Rio 2016 Olympics Team Silver

Playing info: Attack/Left/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: German, English

Interesting story: Born in a family, Solja has been a regular face for the German team since 2009 when she made her senior debut. Her sister Amelie, represents Austria on the international stage.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 5

Miu HIRANO (JPN)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Asian Cup 5th place

Current World Ranking: 17

Seed: 5

Age: 16

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2014 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals Women’s Doubles Gold

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Japanese

Interesting story: Hirano won her first ever ITTF World Tour Singles title in April’s Polish Open, and together with Ito Mima, their names are recorded in the Guinness World Records for being the youngest winner to win an ITTF World Tour title (When they won 2014 German Open Women’s Doubles title at 13-years-old).

#ITTFWorldCup Page 6

TIE Yana (HKG)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Asian Cup 4th place

Current World Ranking: 18

Seed: 6

Age: 37

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 12

Best WC Result: 2008 Runner-up

Highlights of career: 9 ITTF World Tour Singles title, 2008 Women’s World Cup Runner-up

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Mandarin,

Interesting story: Tie has 9 ITTF World Tour Singles title to her belt. Her latest win was in 2016 January Hungarian Open, her first title after returning to international from giving birth in 2013. Tie holds the record for the most number of appearances at the Women’s World Cup.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 7

Jia LIU (AUT)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup Bronze

Current World Ranking: 21

Seed: 7

Age: 34

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 11

Best WC Result: 2015 Quarterfinalist

Highlights of career: 2005, 2014 & 2015 ITTF-European Cup Champion

Playing info: Attack/Left/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Mandarin, German

Interesting story: Liu returned to international play after giving birth to her child in 2011. Liu was also awarded the Fair Play Star Award at the 2014 ITTF Star Awards.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 8

Melek HU (TUR)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup Silver

Current World Ranking: 27

Seed: 8

Age: 27

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 4

Best WC Result: 2015 Quarterfinalist

Highlights of career: 2015 European Women’s Doubles Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Mandarin

Interesting story: In partnership with Yanfei Shen (ESP), Hu won the Women’s’ Doubles title at the 2015 ITTF-European Championships.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 9

YANG Haeun (KOR)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Asian Cup 9th-12th place

Current World Ranking: 28

Seed: 9

Age: 22

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 3

Best WC Result: 2015 Round of 16

Highlights of career: 2015 World Mixed Doubles Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Korean

Interesting story: Since Yang was 6 years old, her mum has always been her coach. At last month Open, Yang beat recently crowned Chinese National Champion . Yang also won the World Mixed Doubles title last year in partnership with (CHN).

#ITTFWorldCup Page 10

Elizabeta SAMARA (ROU)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup 4th place

Current World Ranking: 32

Seed: 10

Age: 27

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 3

Best WC Result: 2012 Runner-up

Highlights of career: 2015 European Champion

Playing info: Attack/Left/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Romanian, English, Spanish, Italian

Interesting story: Also known as Eliza, she is the only European woman to have advanced to the finals of the Women’s World Cup. Eliza also became the third Romanian woman to win the European Singles title when she won the ITTF-European Championships in 2015.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 11

Georgina POTA (HUN)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup 7th place

Current World Ranking: 34

Seed: 11

Age: 31

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 4

Best WC Result: 2014 Bronze

Highlights of career: 2014 Women’s World Cup Bronze

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Hungarian, English

Interesting story: Pota won her first major senior title at the 2007 European Championships in the team event. She’s also named the Hungarian Table Tennis Player of the year for 2004, 2012 & 2013.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 12

JIANG Huajun (HKG)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Asian Cup 7th place

Current World Ranking: 39

Seed: 12

Age: 32

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 9

Best WC Result: 2010 Runner-up

Highlights of career: 2010 Women’s World Cup Runner-up

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese

Interesting story: This will be Jiang’s 9th appearance at the Women’s World Cup, the third most number of appearances, behind teammate Tie Yana (12) and Austria’s Jia Liu (11).

#ITTFWorldCup Page 13

Sabine WINTER (GER)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup 6th place

Current World Ranking: 56

Seed: 13

Age: 24

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2013 European Women’s Doubles Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: German, English

Interesting story: Winter is able to juggle 3 balls, while balancing on a slack line.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 14

Yanfei SHEN (ESP)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup Champion

Current World Ranking: 57

Seed: 14

Age: 36

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 4

Best WC Result: 2012 Bronze

Highlights of career: 2016 ITTF-European Cup Champion, 2015 European Women’s Doubles Champion

Playing info: Attack/Left/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Mandarin, Spanish

Interesting story: In 2005, Shen won the Pro Tour Grand Finals with in doubles. It was the first time in history that a non-Asian pair clinched the title.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 15

Sofia POLCANOVA (AUT)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-European Cup 5th place

Current World Ranking: 63

Seed: 15

Age: 22

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: Rio 2016 Olympian

Playing info: Attack/Left/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Romanian, English

Interesting story: Originally from Moldova, Polcanova moved to Austria for better opportunities. She has since represented Austria in the recent Rio Olympics.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 16

Lily ZHANG (USA)

Qualification: Wild Card

Current World Ranking: 100

Seed: 16

Age: 20

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2014 Youth Olympic Games Bronze, 2015 North American Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: English, Mandarin

Interesting story: Zhang studies Psychology in the University of California – Berkeley. She took a year off from university and resided in Austria for 3 months to prepare for the Rio Olympic Games.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 17

Dina MESHREF (EGY)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-African Cup Champion

Current World Ranking: 120

Seed: 17

Age: 22

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 4

Best WC Result: 2015 Round of 16

Highlights of career: 2015 African Champion, 2014, 2015, 2016 ITTF- African Cup Champion, 2015 All-African Games Champion

Playing info: Attack/Left/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: Arabic, English

Interesting story: Meshref became the first African player to reach the main draw of the Women’s World Cup in 2015, after beating Doo Hoi Kem (HKG) in the group stage. From 2014 till now, she has won all titles at stake in Africa.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 18

Yue WU (USA)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-North American Cup Champion

Current World Ranking: 142

Seed: 18

Age: 26

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2016 ITTF-North American Cup Champion, 2015 Pan American Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: English, Mandarin

Interesting story: Wu coached the comedian and actor Judah Friedlander. She won her first international major title at the Pan American Games last year in Toronto.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 19

Zhenhua DEDERKO (AUS)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Oceania Cup Champion

Current World Ranking: 162

Seed: 19

Age: 39

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2016 ITTF-Oceania Cup Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: English, Mandarin

Interesting story: Dederko emerged as the surprise winner at the 2016 Oceania Cup, as she had never progressed past the semifinal stage on 4 previous occasions.

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Lady RUANO (COL)

Qualification: 2016 ITTF-Latin American Cup Champion

Current World Ranking: 223

Seed: 20

Age: 35

WWC Appearances (incl. 2016): 1

Best WC Result: -

Highlights of career: 2016 ITTF-Latin American Cup Champion

Playing info: Attack/Right/Shakehand

Language(s) spoken: English

Interesting story: Ruano did not compete in table tennis for eight years while she concentrated on her university studies in sports science. She participated in her first Olympic Game Games at the age of 35.

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