Rio 2016 Olympic Games TABLE TENNIS
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Rio 2016 Olympic Games TABLE TENNIS PLAYER BIOGRAPHIES WOMEN Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 1. DING Ning Country: China Qualification method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: 2012 Women’s Singles Silver, 2012 Women’s Team Gold No. Of Olympic Appearances (incl Rio): 2 World Ranking: 2 Age: 26 Playing style: Left/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Beijing, China Career highlights: 2011 & 2015 World Champion Interesting story: Nicknamed “Big Baby”, Ding is well liked by fans due to her bubbly character. If Ding Ning wins in Rio, she will complete the table tennis grand slam. Social Media Accounts: https://www.facebook.com/Dingningofficial/ Weibo: @ 2. FENG Tianwei Country: Singapore Qualification method: Asian Continental Qualification Best OG performance: 2012 Women’s Singles Bronze, 2008 Women’s Team Silver OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 3 World Ranking: 4 Age: 29 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Singapore Career Highlights: 2012 Olympics Women’s Team Bronze, 2010 World Team Champion Interesting story: Feng led the Singapore team to the Women’s team finals during the 2008 Olympics, which was her first ever Olympic outing. This was Singapore’s first ever medal of any kind after 48 years. Social Media Accounts: Weibo: @ Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 2 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 3. LI Xiaoxia Country: China Qualification method: Asian Continental Qualification Best OG Performance: 2012 Women’s Singles Gold, 2012 Women’s Team Gold OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 2 World Ranking: 5 Age: 28 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Beijing, China Career Highlights: 2012 Olympic Champion, 2013 World Champion Interesting story: Captain of the Chinese Women’s table tennis team, Li completed the table tennis grand slam after becoming the 2013 World Champion, and aims to defend her Olympic title in Rio. Her favorite color is pink. Li has the habit of writing diaries of her training to push herself forward. Social Media Accounts: Weibo: @ 4. Kasumi ISHIKAWA Country: Japan Qualification method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: 2012 Women Singles 4th Place, 2012 Women’s Team Silver OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 2 World Ranking: 6 Age: 23 Playing style: Left/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Tokyo, Japan Career Highlights: 2014 & 2016 World Championships Women’s Team Silver, 2015 World Championships Mixed Doubles Silver, 2014 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals Champion Interesting story: In 2012, Ishikawa and her teammates created history as they became the first Japanese table tennis players to win a medal at the Olympic Games. Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 3 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 5. Ai FUKUHARA Country: Japan Qualification method: World Ranking Places Best OG performance: 2012 Women’s Singles Quarterfinalist OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 4 Word Ranking: 7 Age: 27 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Career Highlights: 2012 Olympic Women’s Team Silver, 2016 World Championships Women’s Team Silver, Interesting story: Fukuhara received lots of media attention from the age of 3, taking part in exhibition events and television programmes. She was deemed child prodigy in Japan, as she often beat older players during tournaments. Social Media Accounts: Weibo: @!"#$%$&'(' 6. HAN Ying Country: Germany Qualification method: European Continental Qualification Best OG Performance: Debut OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 1 World Ranking: 8 Age: 33 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Defence Residence: Düsseldorf, Germany Career Highlights: 2015 European Team Champion Interesting stories: Han reached her career high ranking of 8th in October 2015, after winning the Austrian Open. She is also a mother of one daughter. Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 4 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 7. JEON Jihee Country: Republic of Korea Qualification method: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: Debut OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 1 World Ranking: 11 Age: 23 Playing style: Left/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Seoul, Korea Republic Career Highlights: 2014 Asian Games Mixed Doubles Bronze, 4 ITTF World Tour titles Interesting stories: Jeon started playing table tennis under the influence of her dad, who is a table tennis coach. 8. CHENG I-Ching Country: Chinese Taipei Qualification method: World Ranking places Best OG Performance: Debut OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 1 World Ranking: 12 Age: 24 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Taipei, Chinese Taipei Career Highlights: 2016 WTTC Women’s Team Bronze, 2016 ITTF World Tour Japan Open Women’s Singles Semifinalist Interesting stories: After missing out on the previous Olympic Games due to injury, Cheng stated that the 4 year wait to Rio has been difficult. Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 5 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 9. YU Mengyu Country: Singapore Qualification: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: Debut OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 1 World Ranking: 15 Age: 26 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Singapore Career Highlights: 2015 World Championships Women’s Doubles Bronze, 2010 World Team Champion Interesting stories: Yu started playing table tennis at the age of 5 because her parents felt that playing sports will help her strengthen her body and her immune system. Social Media Accounts: Weibo: @)!*+, 10. Petrissa SOLJA Country: Germany Qualification method: European Continental Qualification Best OG Performance: Debut OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 1 World Ranking: 16 Age: 22 Playing style: Left/Shakehand/Attack Residence: -.(/& '01)&2"34152(0'36 Career Highlights: 2015 Women’s World Cup Bronze Interesting stories: Solja’s breakthrough year was in 2015, when she beat several top players to reach the German Open final, and during the Women’s World Cup. Social Media Accounts: https://www.facebook.com/PetrissaSolja http://instagram.com/petisolja Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 6 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 11. SUH Hyowon Country: Republic of Korea Qualification method: World Ranking places Best OG Performance: Debut OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 1 World Ranking: 17 Age: 29 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Defence Residence: Seoul, Korea Republic Career Highlights: 3 ITTF World Tour titles Interesting stories: When Suh was 20, she had surgery to repair a herniated disc in her back. She looks up to Hyun Jung Hwa, who won the 1988 Olympics Women’s’ Doubles. Social Media Accounts: http://instagram.com/seohyowon_ 12. LI Jie Country: Netherlands Qualification: European Continental Qualification Best OG Performance: 2012 Women’s’ Singles Round of 16 OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 3 World Ranking: 21 Age: 32 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Defence Residence: Arnhem, Netherlands Career Highlights: 2015 World Championships Women’s’ Doubles Bronze Interesting stories: After giving birth in late 2013, Li came back stronger and partnered Li Qian (POL) to a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships. Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 7 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 13. DOO Hoi Kem Country: Hong Kong Qualification: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: Debut OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 1 World ranking: 23 Age: 19 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Hong Kong Career Highlights: 2014 Youth Olympics Silver Interesting stories: Youngest in the Hong Kong team, Doo is the highest ranked female player for Hong Kong. At the Asian Olympics qualifier in April, Doo defeated World No.1 Liu Shiwen (CHN) to record her best win of her career. Social Media Accounts: https://www.facebook.com/doohoikem http://instagram.com/doohoikem 14. HU Melek Country: Turkey Qualification: European Continental Qualification Best OG Performance: 2008 Women’s’ Singles Round of 32 OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 3 World Ranking: 24 Age: 27 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Career Highlights: 2015 European Women’s’ Doubles Champion, 2013 World Championships Women’s Singles Quarterfinalist Interesting stories: In partnership with Shen Yanfei, Hu won the European Women’s’ Doubles title for the first time. Rio2016.com/table-tennis ITTF.com pg. 8 #Olympic #TableTennis Rio 2016 Olympic Games Table Tennis Event 06-17 August 2016, Riocentro Pavilion 3 15. LEE Ho Ching Country: Hong Kong Qualification: World Ranking Places Best OG Performance: 2012 Women’s Team Quarterfinals OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 2 World Ranking: 26 Age: 23 Playing style: Right/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Hong Kong Career Highlights: 2014 World Championships Women’s Team Bronze Interesting stories: Lee started playing table tennis at the age of 7, together with her older brother. Lee caused an upset during the Asian Olympic Qualifiers beating Fukuhara Ai (JPN) for the first time. Social Media Accounts: http://instagram.com/leehoching1124 16. LIU Jia Country: Austria Qualification: European Continental Tournament Best OG Performance: 2012 Women’s Singles Round of 32 OG Appearances (incl. Rio): 5 World Ranking: 27 Age: 34 Playing style: Left/Shakehand/Attack Residence: Linz, Austria Career Highlights: 2014 Europe Cup Champion Interesting stories: Liu Jia returned to international play after giving birth to her child in 2011. Liu was also