Table tennis: Indian qualifiers to Rio Games jump places in latest ITTF rankings

The four Rio Games qualifiers Soumyajit Ghosh, Achanta Sharath Kamal, Mouma Das and Manika Batra have jumped places in the latest ITTF ranking showing appreciable improvement in their world rankings.

According to the latest ITTF rankings, Ghosh has jumped four places to be at No. 61 from No. 65 while Sharath Kamal, who was 73 last month, now occupies slot No. 69.

Manika Batra, who was occupying the No. 128 position last month, has moved 13 places up the ladder to be at 115 -- the best thus far for the reigning national champion.

All the three players, who have been preparing themselves for the Rio Games, have been competing in some pro-tour events and their continuous labour in competitions abroad has yielded results in terms of good, stiff competition as well as earning them valuable ranking points.

However, Mouma Das, who had been training with her personal coach at Kolkata, will be participating in her first competition abroad at the Japan Open, beginning in Tokyo on 15 June.

Yet, Mouma has managed to bag the No. 145 spot in the world ranking, thus gaining 13 places. She was placed at No. 158, her previous best.

Among men, Harmeet has gained two places to be at 116 from No. 118.

In the junior rankings, Ananth Devarajan and Manav Thakkar have hit the world chart to do India proud as they occupy slots at No. 24 and No. 54, respectively. Incidentally, this is the first time that the two Indian boys have entered world ranking bracket.

Among junior girls, Archana Girish Kamath has broken into the top 25 bracket, with her perseverance and hard work.

Archana's consistent good performances abroad have brought the desired results, including keeping her in the hot seat for gaining better rankings in the future, on her maiden appearance in the U-18 category abroad.

--PTI