Hafiz moves up to seventh in latest rankings list

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Mohd Hafiz Hashim surged to his best-ever ranking in the world – moving up to seventh spot in the latest rankings list, which was released on Thursday. 

But the Thailand Open and Swiss Open champion may drop one rung after the Japan Open in which he conceded a walkover to Denmark’s Kenneth Jonassen after losing the first game of the third round match. 

Athens Olympic Games champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, who upset second seed Peter Gade-Christensen of Denmark in the quarter-finals of the Japan Open, is expected to move from eighth to seventh place. 

Lee Chong Wei is still Malaysia’s top player, holding on to the sixth spot. 

In the men’s doubles, all the Malaysian pairs moved a few rungs up even though they did not get good results in recent tournaments. 

THE RANKINGS 

Men’s singles:

1. Lin Dan (Chn), 2. Peter Gade-Christensen (Den), 3. Kenneth Jonassen (Den), 4. Bao Chunlai (Chn), 5. Chen Hong (Chn), 6. Lee Chong Wei (Mas), 7. Mohd Hafiz Hashim (Mas), 8. Taufik Hidayat (Ina), 9. Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Ina), 10. Wong Choong Hann (Mas); Other Malaysians: 19. Sairul Amar Ayob, 20. Kuan Beng Hong, 21. Mohd Roslin Hashim. 

Men’s doubles: 1. Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen (Den), 2. Luluk Hadiyanto-Alven Yulianto (Ina), 3. Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen (Den), 4. Fu Haifeng-Cai un (Chn), 5. Flandi Limpele-Eng Hian (Ina), 6. Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den), 7. Candra Wijaya-Sigit Budiarto (Ina), 8. Jung Jae-sung-Lee Jae-jin (Kor), 9. Liu Kwok Wa-Albertus Susanto Nyoto (Hkg), 10. Sang Yang-Zheng Bo (Chn); Other Malaysians: 12. Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock, 15. Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui, 16. Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat, 19. Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, 21. Choong Tan Fook-Chew Choon Eng. 

Women’s singles: 1. Xie Xingfang (Chn), 2. Pi Hognyan (Fra), 3. Zhang Ning (Chn), 4. Yao Jie (Ned), 5. Jun Jae-youn (Kor), 6. Wang Chen (Hkg), 7. Zhou Mi (CHn), 8. Xu Huaiwen (Ger), 9. Tracey Hallam (Eng), 10. Mia Audina (Ned); Malaysian: 70. Wong Mew Choo. 

Women’s doubles: 1. Yang Wei-Zhang Jiewen (Chn), 2. Wei Yili-Zhao Tingting (Chn), 3. Gao Ling-Huang Sui (Chn), 4. Lee Kyung-won-Lee Hyo-jung (Kor), 5. T. Saralee-C. Sathinee (Tha), 6. Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui (Mas), 7. Ella Tripp-Joanne Wright (Eng) 8. Zhang Dan-Zhang Yawen (Chn), 9. Chien Yu-chin-Cheng Wen-hsing (Tpe), 10. Jiang Yanmei-Li Yujia (Sin). 

Mixed doubles: 1. Nathan Robertson-Gail Emms (Eng), 2. Jens Eriksen-Mette Scholdager (Den), 3. Chen Qiqiu-Zhao Tingting (Chn), 4. Sudket Prapakamol-T. Saralee (Tha), 5. Zhang Jun-Gao Ling (Chn), 6. Robert Blair-Natalie Munt (Eng), 7. Nova Widianto-Natsir Lilyana (Ina), 8. Lee Jae-jin-Lee Hyo-jung (Kor), 9. Frederik Bergstrom-Johanna Persson (Swe), 10. Daniel A Shirley-Sara Runesten-Petersen (Nzl); Malaysians: 15. Koo Kien Keat-Wong Pei Tty.