South Korean table tennis player Shin Yu Bin and partner Lim Jong Hoon have moved to No. 1 in the world in mixed doubles.
The International Table Tennis Federation posted updated world rankings on its website on Tuesday, listing the Lim-Shin pair at No. 1 in mixed doubles. They rose one spot from the Week 7 rankings released on Feb. 9, marking the first time the duo have topped the mixed doubles standings.
The pair were eliminated in the round of 16 at last month’s WTT Star Contender Doha. In the latest calculation, however, points from last year’s WTT Singapore event expired, benefiting Lim and Shin. Lin Shidong and Kuai Man, the previous No. 1 pair, fell two places to No. 3. Lin and Kuai had won Singapore Smash, but their number of ranking events dropped to five as they have played fewer international tournaments recently.
WTT rankings can include up to eight tournaments, but points drop off after one year. Lim and Shin earned 1,500 points by winning last year’s Hong Kong Finals and have consistently competed, filling the maximum eight events used for ranking.
Lim and Shin are scheduled to compete at WTT Singapore Smash, running from Feb. 19 to March 1. Lin and Kuai, along with the world No. 2 pair Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, will not participate. Under a rule allowing only one pair per country, the world No. 9 duo of Hwang Yu Jung and Chen Yi will enter instead.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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