Grand Final PLAYERS BIOGRAPHIES WOMEN Page 1
DING Ning Nation: China the WTGF: 20/06/1990 23 years old 2013 World Tour events: 5 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 4 Playing info: Left-handed shake-hand, fast attacking topspin player Highlights: Winner of 3 titles Austria, Qatar and Russia Women s Singles silver medallist London 2012 Olympic Games Winner of eight ITTF World Tour Women s Singles titles Three times the Women s Singles runner up at the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals (2009, 2011, 2012) Winner of Women s World Cup 2011 Nickname: Da Baobei (=big baby) Languages spoken: Chinese Interesting story: The only player to the singles event at a World Junior Championships and progress to become World Champion; she won the Girls Singles title at the World Junior Championships in 2005, the Women s Singles title at the World Championships in 2011. Standings: 1 Current World Ranking: 2 Page 2
LIU Shiwen Nation: China the WTGF: 12/04/91 22 years old 2013 World Tour events: 5 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 4 Playing info: Right-handed, shake-hand, attacking topspin player Highlights: Winner of 1 titles Kuwait Winner of 10 ITTF World Tour Women s Singles titles overall Women s Singles runner up at World Table Tennis Championships (2013) Winner of Women s Singles title at ITTF World Tour Grand Finals twice (2011, 2012) Winner of Women s World Cup (2009, 2012, 2013) Asian Cup Champion (2013) Languages spoken: Chinese Interesting story: Made her debut on the international scene in 2004 at the World Junior Championships when only 13 years old; in the whole eight days of the tournament she lost just one match, that was in the Girls Singles semi-final to colleague, Chang Chenchen, the champion elect She hails from Liaoning Province in northern China but when ten years old her coach moved south to Guangzhou; Liu Shiwen also moved. She has won the Women s World Cup on all three appearances (2009, 2012, 2013); she has never lost a match in the competition. Standings: 2 Current World Ranking: 1 Page 3
Nation: China the WTGF: 16/01/88 25 years old 2013 World Tour events: 5 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 5 Playing info: Right-handed, shake-hand attacking top spin player movement. Highlights: Winner of 1 titles China 2013 Singles World Champion Women s Singles gold medalist London 2012 Olympic Games Women s Singles runner up at World Championships twice (2007, 2011) Eight ITTF World Tour Women s Singles titles Winner of Women s Singles title at ITTF World Tour Grand Finals (2007) Languages spoken: Chinese Interesting story: Named by fans Miss No.2 prior to London 2012 Olympic Games Standings: 3 Current World Ranking: 3 LI Xiaoxia Page 4
Nation: Korea the WTGF: 10/05/87 26 years old 2013 World Tour events: 6 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 1 Playing info: Right handed defensive player with ability to attack with forehand top spin Highlights: Winner of 2 titles Poland and Korea Languages spoken: Korean Interesting story: Standings: 4 Current World Ranking: 12 SEO Hyowon Page 5
Nation: Singapore the WTGF: 31/08/86 27 years old 2013 World Tour events: 6 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 7 Playing info: Right-handed, shake-hand attacking topspin player Highlights: Winner of four ITTF World Tour Women s Singles titles Winner of Women s Singles title at ITTF World Tour Grand Finals (2010) Women s Singles bronze medallist London Olympic Games (2012) Women s Teams bronze medal at London Olympic Games (2012) Women s Singles winner Commonwealth Games (2010) Nickname: Le Le (happiness in Chinese, given her family) Languages spoken: Chinese Interesting story: Unbeaten in final of Women s event at Liebherr World Team Championships in 2010 to steer Singapore to victory over China FENG Tianwei Standings: 5 Current World Ranking: 4 Page 6
Nation: Belarus the WTGF: 08/05/78 34 years old 2013 World Tour events: 6 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 6 Playing info: Right-handed, shake-hand defensive backspin player Highlights: Winner of 1 titles Czech Republic European Women s Singles champion twice (2010, 2012) Nickname: Vika Languages spoken: Russian, German & English Interesting story: Twin sister of Veronika whose style is totally different, Veronika is a powerful attacking player, Viktoria a stalwart defender. Standings: 6 Current World Ranking: 17 Viktoria PAVLOVICH Page 7
Nation: China the WTGF: 10/01/95 19 years old 2013 World Tour events: 5 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 1 Playing info: Right handed, shake-hand attacking top spin player Highlights: Winner of Girls Singles title at World Junior Championships twice (2010, 2012) Languages spoken: Chinese Interesting story: Only player to have regained the Girls Singles title at a World Junior Championships; she won in 2010, was beaten in the final in 2011 by Chen Meng; then won 2012 Standings: 7 ZHU Yuling Current World Ranking: 7 Page 8
LI Jiao Nation: Netherlands the WTGF: 15/01/73 40 years old 2013 World Tour events: 6 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 4 Playing info: Left-handed pen-holder that is an attacking player noted for service and first attack Highlights: European Women s Singles champion twice (2007, 2011) Winner of two Women s Singles ITTF World Tour titles Languages spoken: English, Dutch & Chinese Interesting story: In September 2012 she suffered a wrist injury, it was thought to be career ending; fortunately she has recovered. Standings: 8 Current World Ranking: 16 Page 9
Elizabeta SAMARA Nation: Romania the WTGF: 15/04/89 24 years old 2013 World Tour events: 7 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 2 Playing info: Left-handed, shake-hand attacking top spin player from half distance Highlights: Winner of 1 titles Brazil Languages spoken: Romanian, English, Spanish & Italian Interesting story: The only European player ever to reach the final of the Women s World Cup; she was the runner up in 2012 beaten by Liu Shiwen in the final Standings: 9 Current World Ranking: 27 Page 10
Nation: Hong Kong the WTGF: 24/11/92 21 years old 2013 World Tour events: 9 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 1 Playing info: Right handed top spin attacking player Highlights: Runner-up ITTF World Junior Circuit Finals 2010 Languages spoken: Chinese & English Interesting Story: She has qualified for all three possible events in Dubai WS, WD(Jiang Huajun), U21WS Standings: 10 Current World Ranking: 23 LEE Ho Ching Page 11
Nation: Hong Kong the WTGF: 08/10/84 29 years old 2013 World Tour events: 7 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 6 Playing info: Right-handed, shake-hand powerful attacking player, noted for backhand. Highlights: Winner of four ITTF World Tour Women s Singles titles Languages spoken: Chinese Interesting story: Won her first ITTF World Tour Women s Singles title in Kuwait in 2006 when she beat the top World ranked Chinese players at the time Zhang Yining, Guo Yan and Gue. One of the few leading players to use short pimpled rubber on the backhand. Considered to have the most powerful backhand in women s table tennis Standings: 11 Current World Ranking: 14 JIANG Huajun Page 12
CHENG I-Ching Nation: Chinese Taipei the WTGF: 15/02/92 21 years old 2013 World Tour events: 8 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 1 Playing info: Right handed shake hand attacking player Highlights: Runner-up with Huang Yi-Hwa in WD at GAC Group 2012 Grand Finals Languages spoken: Chinese Standings: 12 Current World Ranking: 28 Page 13
Nation: Korea the WTGF: 28/10/92 21 years old 2013 World Tour events: 8 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 1 Playing info: Left handed shake hand attacking player Highlights: Won Women s singles at the 2011 Morocco Open Languages spoken: Korean Standings: 13 Current World Ranking: 25 JEON Jihee Page 14
Nation: Russia the WTGF: 24/07/87 26 years old 2013 World Tour events: 6 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 1 Playing info: Right handed shake hand defensive player Languages spoken: Russian & English Interesting story: Standings: 14 Current World Ranking: 185 Maria DOLGIKH Page 15
Nation: China the WTGF: 28/11/93 20 years old 2013 World Tour events: 5 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 1 Playing info: Right handed attacking player Highlights: Women s singles semi-finalist Swedish Open 2013 Languages spoken: Chinese Standings: 15 Current World Ranking: 36 ZHAO Yan Page 16
Maria BYKOVA Nation: Russia the WTGF: 10/10/87 26 years old 2013 World Tour events: 6 WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 1 Playing info: Right hand shake hand defensive player Highlights: Languages spoken: Russian & English Interesting story: Standings: 16 Current World Ranking: 247 Page 17
Nation: UAE the WTGF: 21/05/92 21 years old WTGF Appearances (inc 2013): 1 Playing info: Left hand shake hand defensive player Languages spoken: Arabic Standings: N/A Current World Ranking: N/A Majd ALBLOOSHI Page 18