GAO Ning replaced YAN An in Dubai

January 2, 2014
12:00 am
Other Events

China’s YAN An has withdrawn from the forthcoming US$ 1.000.000 GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals to be staged in Dubai from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th January 2014; he will be replaced by Singapore’s GAO Ning. The Men’s Doubles defending champ,

Top seeded is MA Long of China World’s no. one player, whilst the European challenge is lead by Dimitrij OVTCHAROV of Germany listed at position no. 6 in December. In November OVTCHAROV reached his career high by hitting position no. 5. He is Men’s Singles bronze medallist at London 2012 Olympic Games and European Champion 2013 in Austria. This will be Dima’s 6th appearance at the ITTF Pro World Tour Grand Finals.

In Men’s singles Event Old Continent will have another representative – Abdel Kader SALIFOU of France, World’s no. 103. In 2013 French player won GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles titles in Cairo, Zagreb and Rabat; the result was that for the first time in his career he traversed the one hundred mark on the World Rankings. One year ago in December 2012, he stood at no.163; in November 2013 he climbed to no.99. Now, in December 2013, he is just below the waterline at no.103.

Ma Long has the chance to become the most successful World Tour Grand Final player of all time if he wins in Dubai. At this moment he stands at the top of the list of winners with three titles at the ITTF Pro World Tour Grand Finals. MA won it in 2011, 2009 and 2008 and equals WANG Liqin’s record (2004, 2000 and 1998). Last year in Hangzhou XU Xin of China clinched the title. He is third seed in Dubai.

PAVADE Reclaims Crown, Félix LEBRUN Retains Title at French National Championships

The 96th French National Championships concluded in Laval with Prithika PAVADE and Félix LEBRUN capturing the singles crowns after three days of high-quality competition played in front of nearly 13,000...

European Under 21 Men’s Singles Set for Wide-Open Title Race

The race for the Men’s Singles title at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships promises to be one of the most competitive in recent years, with a field packed with...

Women’s Singles Field Packed with Title Contenders at ROMSTAL U21 European Championships

The Women’s Singles event at the ROMSTAL European Under 21 Championships brings together an impressive mix of reigning champions, former winners and rising stars from across Europe. Wales’ Anna HURSEY...

KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg Crowned Polish Champions for the 33rd Time

Fresh from lifting the ETTU Champions League Women trophy, KTS Enea Siarkopol Tarnobrzeg have once again confirmed their dominance on the domestic stage by securing the Polish Women’s Team Championship...