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.
#ITTFWorldCup Page 2
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 table tennis 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, Cantonese
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 China Open, Yang beat recently crowned Chinese National Champion Zhu Yuling. Yang also won the World Mixed Doubles title last year in partnership with Xu Xin (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 Gao Jun 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.
#ITTFWorldCup Page 20
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.
#ITTFWorldCup Page 21