#ITTFWorldCup Page 2

ZHU Yuling

Country China

Qualification Asian Cup Champion

World Rank 2

Seed 1

Age 22

Style of Play Attack / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result Quarterfinalist (2015)

Achievements 2017 World Championship Silver, 2017 Asian Cup Winner

Short description The rising star of the Chinese National Team, recently capturing some of her best results in 2017, claiming 2 Silver medals at the World Championships in Women’s Singles & Women’s Doubles, as well as winning the Asian Cup against her senior Liu Shiwen!

#ITTFWorldCup Page 3

LIU Shiwen

Country China

Qualification Substitute / Asian Cup 2nd Place

World Rank 4

Seed 2

Age 26

Style of Play Attack / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result Champion (2015, 2013, 2012, 2009)

Achievements 4-time World Cup winner, 4-time Asian Cup Champion

Short description One of the most dominant World Cup players in history, a four time champion seeking to break records by becoming the first ever player, male or female, to win 5 World Cup titles.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 4

Kasumi ISHIKAWA

Country Japan

Qualification Asian Cup 3rd place

World Rank 5

Seed 3

Age 24

Style of Play Attack / Left / Shakehand

Best WC Result 2nd place (2015)

Achievements 2-time World Cup Medalist, 2017 Mixed Doubles World Champion

Short description One of the more experienced players in international women’s table tennis, already a two-time World Cup medalist and a frequent top 10 ranked player.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 5

Miu HIRANO

Country Japan

Qualification Asian Cup 4th place

World Rank 6

Seed 4

Age 17

Style of Play Attack / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result Champion (2016)

Achievements 2016 World Cup Champion, 2017 Asian Champion

Short description The record breaker of 2016, Hirano is the first and only non-Chinese player to claim the Women’s World Cup title when she won in Philadelphia, USA in 2016! Hirano also made history earlier this year, breaking China’s winning streak in the Asian Championships Women’s Singles event since 1998, and winning Japan’s first World Championships Women’s Singles medal since 1969.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 6

CHENG I-Ching

Country Chinese Taipei

Qualification Asian Cup 5-8th place

World Rank 10

Seed 5

Style of Play Attack / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result 2nd place (2016)

Achievements 2016 World Cup Silver, 2017 World Championship Mixed Doubles Silver

Short description A frequent competitor on the ITTF World Tour, Cheng is Chinese Taipei’s best hope in international events and will be looking to go one step further in this year’s world cup than her 2016 Silver. 

#ITTFWorldCup Page 7

DOO Hoi Kem

Country Hong Kong

Qualification Asian Cup 5-8th place

World Rank 19

Seed 6

Age 20

Style of Play Attack / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result Qualifications (2015)

Achievements 2014 World Team Championships Bronze, 2014 Youth Olympic Games Silver

Short description Doo experienced rapid succession from achieving in youth events to taking the stage as a senior player. She quickly reached a world ranking high of 10th earlier this year and is infamous for her defeat of 4-time World Cup champion Liu Shiwen during the 2016 Asia Olympic Trials.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 8

LI Jie

Country Netherlands

Qualification Europe Cup Champion

World Rank 20

Seed 7

Age 33

Style of Play Defense / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result Round of 16 (2015)

Achievements 2015 European Games Champion, 4-time European Team Champion, 2017 Europe Top 16 Champion

Short description Li is one of the top defensive players in the world and has been at the top levels of European table tennis for many years.

 

#ITTFWorldCup Page 9

Elizabeta SAMARA

Country Romania

Qualification Wild Card

World Rank 26

Seed 8

Age 28

Style of Play Attack / Left / Shakehand

Best WC Result 2nd place (2012)

Achievements 2017 European Team Champion, 2015 European Champion

Short description Samara became the first European to reach the finals of the Women’s World Cup in 2012. Coming back from a knee surgery in late January, Samara led the Romanian team to the Championship title at the European Championships in September. 

#ITTFWorldCup Page 10

SUH Hyowon

Country Korea Republic

Qualification Asian Cup 5-8th place

World Rank 27

Seed 9

Age 30

Style of Play Defense / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result Round of 16 (2015)

Achievements 2008 Asian Cup 4th Place, 2013 ITTF Polish Open Champion

Short description Notably one of the world’s best defensive players and truly entertaining to watch in matches, Suh is consistently top 10 in the world during the year 2014 and has remained a high level contender internationally for nearly a decade.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 11

Georgina POTA

Country Hungary

Qualification Europe Cup 5-8th place

World Rank 32

Seed 10

Age 32

Style of Play Attack / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result 3rd place (2014)

Achievements 2007 European Team Champion, 2008 European Doubles Champion, 2014 World Cup 4th Place

Short description A more traditional rallying style but no less lethal on the table, Pota is a top contender and has a wealth of international experience among Europe’s best.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 12

CHEN Szu-Yu

Country Chinese Taipei

Qualification Asian Cup 5-8th place

World Rank 32

Seed 11

Age 24

Style of Play Attack / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result -

Achievements 2016 World Team Championships Bronze Medalist

Short description The surprise performer of the 2017 Asian Cup, Chen overcame the big names to qualify for Canada. A world champion as a cadet player, now moving up the ranks in recent years of senior competition.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 13

LIU Jia

Country Austria

Qualification Europe Cup 4th place

World Rank 35

Seed 12

Age 35

Style of Play Attack / Left / Shakehand

Best WC Result Quarterfinalist (2016)

Achievements 2005 European Champion, 2005 European Top 12 Champion, 3-time European Cup Champion

Short description Liu has been a powerhouse in European Table Tennis for many, many years and has been ranked in the top 10 players in the world on several occasions. Liu will be making her 12th World Cup appearance in Canada. 

#ITTFWorldCup Page 14

LEE Ho Ching

Country Hong Kong

Qualification Asian Cup 9-10th place

World Rank 42

Seed 13

Age 24

Style of Play Attack / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result Round of 16 (2014)

Achievements 2016 ITTF Croatia Open Doubles Champion, 2016 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals Doubles Silver Medalist

Short description One of Hong Kong’s top rising stars, Lee has a proven track record in international competition against many of the world’s best players.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 15

Matilda EKHOLM

Country Sweden

Qualification Substitute

World Rank 44

Seed 14

Age 35

Style of Play Attack / Left / Shakehand

Best WC Result Qualifications (2012)

Achievements 2016 Europeans Championships Mixed Doubles 2nd place

Short description Matilda Ekholm is renowned for her determination and willpower as well as her famed successful battle to compete in the Olympic Games which she did in Rio 2016. A powerful left handed style is always entertaining to fans and spectators.

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Sabine WINTER

Country Germany

Qualification Europe Cup 3rd place

World Rank 52

Seed 15

Age 25

Style of Play Attack / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result Quarterfinalist (2016)

Achievements 2017 Europe Top 16 Cup 3rd Place, 2016 World Cup Quarterfinalist

Short description One of Germany’s top performing players and a strong contender in the European continent and around the globe.

#ITTFWorldCup Page 17

Mo Zhang

Country Canada

Qualification Host

World Rank 59

Seed 16

Age 28

Style of Play Attack / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result Qualifications (2015)

Achievements 3-time North American Champion, 2013 Commonwealth Championships Singles Gold Medalist, 2011 Pan American Games Champion

Short description Zhang is one of few women’s players to compete with short pimple on their forehand, she has been one of the top forces in North American table tennis from a young age.

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Lily ZHANG

Country USA

Qualification Pan Am Cup Champion

World Rank 80

Seed 17

Age 21

Style of Play Attack / Right / Shakehand

Best WC Result Round of 16 (2016)

Achievements 2014 Youth Olympic Games Bronze Medalist, 4-time US National Champion, 2017 Pan American Cup Champion

Short description A two-time Olympian and 8 world championship appearances at just 21 years of age, Zhang is a full-time student and still contends at the highest levels of women’s table tennis.

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Dina MESHREF

Country Egypt

Qualification African Cup Champion

World Rank 103

Seed 18

Age 23

Style of Play Attack / Left / Shakehand

Best WC Result Round of 16 (2016)

Achievements 2017 Africa Cup Champion, 2016 Africa Top 16 Champion

Short description Meshref is Egypt’s top player and has regularly topped the podium in African and Arab state championship events.

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Jian Fang LAY

Country Australia

Qualification Oceania Cup Champion

World Rank 117

Seed 19

Age 44

Style of Play Attack / Right / Penhold

Best WC Result Qualification (2015)

Achievements 2017 Oceania Cup Champion, 2016 Oceania Olympic Qualification Champion

Short description Lay has possibly one of the most unique styles in table tennis, her rapid penhold twiddling between inverted rubber and long pimples causes nightmares for her opponents and is truly entertaining to watch in action!

#ITTFWorldCup Page 21

Paulina VEGA

Country Chile

Qualification Pan Am Cup Qualifier

World Rank 249

Seed 20

Age 33

Style of Play Attack / Left/ Shakehand

Best WC Result -

Achievements 2016 ITTF Latin American Cup 3rd place, 2017 Ibero-American Championships Finalist

Short description Vega is one of Latin America’s best, making strong finishes in Pan American and Latin American competition during her career. She made an outstanding finish at this year’s Pan American Cup where she reached the semifinal to qualify for the Women’s World Cup.