ZHU Yuling Country China Qualification Asian Cup Champion World Rank 2 Seed 1 Age 22 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 2
LIU Shiwen Country China Qualification Substitute / Asian Cup 2nd Place World Rank 4 Seed 2 Age 26 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 3
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 4
Miu HIRANO Country Japan Qualification Asian Cup 4th place World Rank 6 Seed 4 Age 17 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 5
CHENG I-Ching Country Chinese Taipei Qualification Asian Cup 5-8th place World Rank 10 Seed 5 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 6
DOO Hoi Kem Country Hong Kong Qualification Asian Cup 5-8th place World Rank 19 Seed 6 Age 20 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 7
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 8
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 9
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 10
Georgina POTA Country Hungary Qualification Europe Cup 5-8th place World Rank 32 Seed 10 Age 32 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 11
CHEN Szu-Yu Country Chinese Taipei Qualification Asian Cup 5-8th place World Rank 32 Seed 11 Age 24 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 12
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 13
LEE Ho Ching Country Hong Kong Qualification Asian Cup 9-10th place World Rank 42 Seed 13 Age 24 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 14
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. #ITTFWorldCup Page 15
Sabine WINTER Country Germany Qualification Europe Cup 3rd place World Rank 52 Seed 15 Age 25 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 16
Mo Zhang Country Canada Qualification Host World Rank 59 Seed 16 Age 28 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. #ITTFWorldCup Page 17
Lily ZHANG Country USA Qualification Pan Am Cup Champion World Rank 80 Seed 17 Age 21 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. #ITTFWorldCup Page 18
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. #ITTFWorldCup Page 19
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 20
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. #ITTFWorldCup Page 21