Wang Manyu tops ITTF women's singles rankings for first time

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's Wang Manyu has risen to No. 1 in the International Table Tennis Federation women's singles world rankings for the first time in her career.

Wang Manyu hits a return to Kuai Man during the women's singles semifinal at the WTT Europe Smash in Malmo, Sweden, Aug. 16, 2026. (File photo: Xinhua)

Wang replaced compatriot Sun Yingsha at the top, ending Sun's 217-week reign as world No. 1 dating back to July 19, 2022. China's Zhang Yining holds the record with 240 weeks at No. 1.

Sun had occupied the top spot for more than four years but has not competed internationally since winning the World Table Tennis United States Smash in July.

With ranking points from last year's WTT Champions Yokohama, WTT Europe Smash and WTT Champions Macao expiring, Sun dropped below Wang in the latest rankings.

Japan's Miwa Harimoto, winner of this year's WTT Champions Macao, is third in the women's singles rankings, followed by China's Kuai Man and Wang Yidi.

China's Wang Chuqin remains No. 1 in the men's singles rankings.

French brothers Alexis and Felix Lebrun lead the men's doubles rankings, while Japan's Hina Hayata and Harimoto top the women's doubles standings. South Korea's Lim Jong-hoon and Shin Yu-bin remain the top-ranked mixed doubles pair.