On April 27, Team China set off for the World Table Tennis Championships in London. On the same day, Sun Yingsha reached a major milestone. According to the latest rankings released by the International Table Tennis Federation, she remains world No.1 in women’s singles, with a cumulative total of 205 weeks (1,435 days) at the top—surpassing Wang Nan and moving up to fourth place in history.
Just a week earlier, Sun had reached 204 weeks (1,428 days). By maintaining her No.1 ranking, she has now overtaken Wang Nan’s total of 1,430 days. Wang first reached No.1 in January 1999 and held it until December 2002, when she was replaced by Zhang Yining.
Ahead of Sun are three legends: Deng Yaping, Zhang Yining, and Ding Ning, with 87, 83, and 53 months at world No.1 respectively.
Deng Yaping’s dominance remains unmatched, having led the rankings for 87 consecutive months from 1991 to 1998. Zhang Yining accumulated 83 months at the top, including a 61-month uninterrupted stretch. Ding Ning’s 53 months were more fragmented, but her success in major tournaments cemented her legacy.
After surpassing Wang Nan, Sun’s next target is Ding Ning. She is currently about six months behind, but given her current form, breaking into the top three appears highly achievable. Since July 19, 2022, Sun has consistently held the No.1 ranking.
While rankings are significant, achieving a Grand Slam remains her ultimate goal in this Olympic cycle. If she can combine major titles with continued ranking dominance, her place in history will only rise further.
