Korean Table Tennis Duo Claims World No. 1 Ranking
Seoul – The Korean women’s doubles team of Kim Na-young and Yoo Han-na (POSCO International) has achieved a historic milestone, ascending to the No. 1 position in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) women’s doubles world rankings.
Dominating the Doubles Scene
The dynamic duo surpassed China’s Wang Man-yu and Kwai-man, moving up one spot to claim the top ranking as of the ITTF’s latest update on March 2nd. This marks the first time a Korean doubles team has reached the pinnacle of the world rankings since the system’s inception.
This achievement comes on the heels of a strong performance at the 2026 World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash, where Kim Na-young and Yoo Han-na reached the quarterfinals, adding 580 points to their total, bringing it to 4,020. This edged them past Wang Man-yu and Kwai Man, who remained at 4,000 points.
Korean Table Tennis on the Rise
The success extends beyond the women’s doubles. Korea’s mixed doubles pair, Lim Jong-hoon (Korea Exchange) and Shin Yu-bin (Korean Air), previously reached the world No. 1 ranking in the 7th week of this year’s rankings. This recent success in women’s doubles completes a sweep of the top spots for Korean teams.
Kim Na-young and Yoo Han-na have demonstrated consistent excellence, winning three WTT Star Contender Series titles last year (Chennai, Skopje, and Lagos) and securing second place at the WTT Chennai tournament earlier this month.
Further Gains and Notable Performances
Shin Yu-bin and Nagasaki Miyu (Japan), who jointly finished second at the WTT Singapore Smash, saw their ranking improve significantly, jumping five places from 14th to 9th.
In men’s doubles, the team of Lim Jong-hoon and Ahn Jae-hyun (Korea Exchange) experienced a slight setback, dropping from second to third in the world rankings.
On the singles front, Jang Woo-jin (SeAH) achieved a personal best, climbing from 13th to 10th in the men’s rankings. However, Shin Yu-bin experienced a minor dip, falling one spot to 14th in the women’s singles rankings.
Looking Ahead
These recent successes signal a bright future for Korean table tennis, with its athletes consistently demonstrating their skill and determination on the international stage. The continued rise of these players promises exciting competition and further achievements in the years to approach.
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