Liu Shiwen

Liu Shiwen
Liu Shiwen in 2013
Personal information
Native name刘诗雯
Nickname(s)Sunny
NationalityChinese
Born (1991-04-12) 12 April 1991 (age 33)[1]
Liaoning, China
Height161 cm (5 ft 3 in)[2]
Table tennis career
Playing styleRight-handed, shakehand grip
Highest ranking1 (January 2010)[3]
Medal record
Women's Table Tennis
Representing  China
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 1 0
World Championships 8 4 3
World Cup 11 1 0
Total 20 6 3
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Mixed doubles
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2012 Dortmund Team
Gold medal – first place 2014 Tokyo Team
Gold medal – first place 2015 Suzhou Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2016 Kuala Lumpur Team
Gold medal – first place 2017 Düsseldorf Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2018 Halmstad Team
Gold medal – first place 2019 Budapest Singles
Gold medal – first place 2019 Budapest Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 2010 Moscow Team
Silver medal – second place 2013 Paris Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2013 Paris Singles
Silver medal – second place 2015 Suzhou Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Yokohama Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Rotterdam Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Düsseldorf Singles
World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2009 Guangzhou Singles
Gold medal – first place 2009 Linz Team
Gold medal – first place 2010 Dubai Team
Gold medal – first place 2012 Huangshi Singles
Gold medal – first place 2013 Guangzhou Team
Gold medal – first place 2013 Kobe Singles
Gold medal – first place 2015 Dubai Team
Gold medal – first place 2015 Sendai Singles
Gold medal – first place 2018 London Team
Gold medal – first place 2019 Chengdu Singles
Gold medal – first place 2019 Tokyo Team
Silver medal – second place 2017 Markham Singles
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Guangzhou Team
Gold medal – first place 2014 Incheon Team
Gold medal – first place 2014 Incheon Singles
Silver medal – second place 2010 Guangzhou Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2014 Incheon Doubles
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2005 Jeju-do Doubles
Gold medal – first place 2009 Lucknow Team
Gold medal – first place 2012 Macau Team
Gold medal – first place 2013 Busan Team
Gold medal – first place 2013 Busan Singles
Gold medal – first place 2015 Pattaya Team
Gold medal – first place 2019 Yogyakarta Mixed doubles
Silver medal – second place 2013 Busan Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2019 Yogyakarta Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Jeju-do Team
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Lucknow Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Lucknow Mixed doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Macau Singles
Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 2010 Guangzhou Singles
Gold medal – first place 2012 Guangzhou Singles
Gold medal – first place 2013 Hong Kong Singles
Gold medal – first place 2016 Dubai Singles
Silver medal – second place 2009 Hangzhou Singles
Silver medal – second place 2015 Jaipur Singles
Silver medal – second place 2017 Ahmedabad Singles
National Games of China
Gold medal – first place 2021 Shaanxi Mixed doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Shaanxi Singles
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2004 Kobe Team
Gold medal – first place 2004 Kobe Mixed doubles
Gold medal – first place 2004 Kobe Doubles
Silver medal – second place 2004 Kobe Singles
Asian Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2004 New Delhi Team
Gold medal – first place 2004 New Delhi Doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2004 New Delhi Singles
In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu.

Liu Shiwen (Chinese: 刘诗雯; pinyin: Liú Shīwén; born 12 April 1991) is a Chinese table tennis player.[1] She is a five-time World Cup champion, one-time World Champion, three-time ITTF World Tour Grand Finals champion and four-time Asian Cup champion. She is known to be one of the fastest players in the world.[weasel words]

She held the ITTF No. 1 rank for nine consecutive months from January to September 2010, thirteen consecutive months during 2013–2014, and eleven consecutive months during 2015–2016.[4] Also, she has been consistently ranked first or second in ITTF Women's World ranking from early 2012 to mid-2017 (with no lower rank than third).[4]

Equipment

Liu Shiwen currently uses a Custom made Butterfly ZLC with a black DHS Hurricane 3 NEO Blue Sponge (2.1mm,39.5°) for her forehand and a red Dignics for her backhand.[citation needed]

Career

In 2019, Liu Shiwen won the world championships.[5] In a sit-down interview with CCTV, Liu discussed her 2019 World Championship run, placing a big emphasis on the psychological aspect. She noted that she felt like an underdog against both Ding Ning in the semi-finals and Chen Meng in the finals.[6]

In 2020, Liu's season was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic. She did not return for ITTF's restart events at the end of the year due to injury.[7] Liu was expected to return in 2021 at WTT Doha, but plans were cut short by China's decision to withdraw due to coronavirus concerns.[8]

2021

After getting surgery for an elbow injury that sidelined her through most of 2020, Liu began training with her teammates again in January.[9]

In March, Liu participated in the Chinese National Team training camp and played in the China National Games Qualifying tournament, where she stated that she felt that she was fully recovered from her injury.[10] National team coach Li Sun stated that Liu looked even better than expected in training camp, which prompted speculation that Liu was a front-runner to represent China in the singles event at the Tokyo Olympics.[11] However, Liu lost 4–0 to Zhu Yuling in the quarter finals of the China Olympic Scrimmage in May.[12]

In May, Liu was selected to represent China in the team event but not the singles event at the Tokyo Olympics. However, shortly after she lost 4–0 to He Zhuojia in the quarter-finals of the second leg of the China Olympic Scrimmage.[13]

Liu played mixed doubles with Xu Xin at the Tokyo Olympics. In an interview in July, Liu stated that their doubles chemistry was better than ever before.[9]

In July, Liu Shiwen and Xu Xin won silver in the mixed doubles event at the Tokyo Olympics being upset 4-3 by Japan's Mima Ito and Jun Mizutani despite initially leading 2–0.[14] Following the loss, Liu withdrew from the team event and was replaced by Wang Manyu.[15]

In September, Liu Shiwen reached the quarter-finals of the women's singles at the China National Games. After her round of 16 victory over Gu Yuting, Liu stated that the China National Games was her first real tournament in a year and a half.[16] Liu defeated Gu Yuting to reach the semi-finals of the women's singles event, and won the mixed doubles gold medal with Xu Xin.[17] Liu went on to win bronze in women's singles after losing to Sun Yingsha 4–0 in the semi-finals and defeating Chen Meng 3–1 in the bronze medal match.[18]

Liu Shiwen (front) and teammates Cao Zhen and Fan Ying looking at jewelry in 2012.

In December 2022, Liu Shiwen was elected president of the FIBT Athletes' Commission for a four-year term.In April 2023, she became vice-president of the Guangdong Provincial Ping Association.[19]

Career records

Singles (as of 18 June 2019)[20]
  • World Championships: Winner (2019), Runner-up (2013, 2015), SF (2009, 2011, 2017)
  • World Cup: Winner (2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019), Runner-up (2017)
  • Asian Games: Winner (2014)
  • Asian Championships: Winner (2013), SF (2009, 2012, 2017), Runner-up (2019)
  • Asian Cup: Winner (2010, 2012, 2013, 2016), Runner-up (2009, 2015, 2017)
  • World Junior Championships: Runner-up (2004)
  • Asian Junior Championships: SF (2004)
  • Pro Tour Grand Finals: Winner (3) London, England (2011), Hangzhou, China (2012), Dubai, UAE (2013).
  • Pro Tour / ITTF World Tour
    • Winner (14):
      • 2009: Danish Open, China (Suzhou) Open, China (Tianjin) Open
      • 2010: Kuwait Open 2010
      • 2011: Qatar Open 2011
      • 2012: Hungary Open, Korea Open
      • 2013: Kuwait Open, Dubai Open
      • 2015: Polish Open
      • 2016: Qatar Open, Japan Open
      • 2018: Qatar Open, Australia Open
    • Runner-up (16):
      • 2009: English Open
      • 2010: Qatar Open
      • 2011: Sweden Open, Austria Open
      • 2012: Slovenia Open, China (Shanghai) Open, China (Suzhou) Open
      • 2013: Qatar Open, China (Suzhou) Open, Russian Open
      • 2014: China (Chengdu) Open, Sweden Open
      • 2016: Korea Open, China (Chengdu) Open
      • 2019: Qatar Open, Japan Open
  • ITTF Challenge:
    • Winner: Thailand Open (2018)
Doubles
  • World Championships: Winner (2015, 2017), Runner-up (2013), QF (2007, 2009)
  • Asian Games: Runner-up (2010, 2014)
  • Asian Championships: Winner (2005)
  • World Junior Championships: Winner (2004)
  • Asian Junior Championships: Winner (2004)
  • Pro Tour Grand Finals: Winner (2009)
  • Pro Tour /ITTF World Tour
    • Winner (20)
      • 2008: Korea Open 2008
      • 2009: Danish Open, China (Tianjin) Open
      • 2010: Qatar Open
      • 2011: China (Shenzhen) Open
      • 2012: Hungary Open, Korea Open
      • 2013: China (Changchun) Open, Russian Open
      • 2014: Kuwait Open, China (Chengdu) Open, Sweden Open
      • 2015: China (Chengdu) Open
      • 2016: Kuwait Open, Qatar Open, Korea Open
      • 2017: China
      • 2018: Japan
      • 2019: China Open, Japan Open
    • Runner-up (7)
      • 2007: China (Nanjing) Open
      • 2009: Qatar Open, China (Suzhou) Open
      • 2010: Kuwait Open, China (Suzhou) Open
      • 2016: Japan Open, China (Chengdu) Open
Mixed doubles
  • Olympic Games: Runner-up (2020)
  • World Championships: Winner (2019)
  • Asian Championships: Winner (2019), SF (2009)
  • World Junior Championships: Winner (2004)
  • ITTF World Tour:
    • Winner (3)
      • 2018: Austria Open
      • 2019: Hungary Open, Qatar Open, Sweden Open
Team
  • Olympics: Winner (2016)
  • World Championships: Winner (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018), Runner-up (2010)
  • World Team Cup: Winner (2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019)
  • Asian Games: Winner (2010, 2014)
  • Asian Championships: Winner (2009, 2012, 2013, 2015); Second Runner-up (2005)
  • World Junior Championships: Winner (2004)
  • Asian Junior Championships: Winner (2004)

References

  1. ^ a b "ITTF players' profiles". International Table Tennis Federation. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Athlete's Profile". 2014 Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee. Archived from the original on 3 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  3. ^ "ITTF world ranking". International Table Tennis Federation. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Liu Shiwen: ranking history (ITTF)". International Table Tennis Federation. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Liu Shiwen wins women's singles at 2019 Table Tennis World Championships". 27 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Liu Shiwen Interview With CCTV - Edges and Nets". edgesandnets.com. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  7. ^ "WTT Doha 2021 Preview Part 5: Cheng I-Ching and Liu Shiwen". edgesandnets.com. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Winners and Losers of China's Withdrawal From WTT Doha". edgesandnets.com. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Liu Shiwen Interview on Injury Rehab and Olympics". edgesandnets.com. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Liu Shiwen Elbow Injury Update - Edges and Nets". edgesandnets.com. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Mima Ito Discusses WTT Doha and Tokyo Olympics - Edges and Nets". edgesandnets.com. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Fan Zhendong Ends Lin Shidong's Cinderalla Run At China Olympic Scrimmage". edgesandnets.com. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Fan Zhendong and Wang Manyu Win Second Leg of China Olympic Scrimmage". edgesandnets.com. 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Japan's Ito and Mizutani Win Olympic Mixed Doubles Gold". edgesandnets.com. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Liu Shiwen Olympic Withdrawal Prompts Speculation". edgesandnets.com. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Top Stars Cruise Into Quarter-Finals At China National Games". edgesandnets.com. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Liu Dingshuo Upsets Xu Xin 4-3 In China National Games Quarterfinals". edgesandnets.com. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Injured Wang Manyu Sweeps Chen Meng and Sun Yingsha to Win China National Games - Edges and Nets". edgesandnets.com. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  19. ^ "百度安全验证".
  20. ^ "ITTF world ranking women". International Table Tennis Federation. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liu Shiwen.