2018 Asian Cup: Rosters& Preview

Photo: ATTU
What comes before the 2018 World Team Championships? You may have guessed it right. The Commonwealth Games in the full swing but what comes much-anticipated is the 2018 Asian Cup being held from 6 to 8 April in Yokohama, Japan, the host city of 2009 World Championships. 16 men and 16 women from Asian countries will be vying for the Asian Cup title and make their shot to the Individual World Cup scheduled in September (women) and October (men) this year.


This year's Asian Cup can be considered as an Asian version of the preview for the upcoming World Championships in Halmstad because many participants of the Asian Cup will be taking part in the World Championships this April. This includes Zhu Yuling and Lin Gaoyuan from China who will be looking for defending their title. Yet, the task will be made challenging as their compatriots, also reigning world ranked no.1 players, Chen Meng and Fan Zhendong are tough competitors to beat going into the meet. 

 The Chinese aside, the Japanese players are the ones to put an eye on. Kasumi Ishikawa got an upset over 2 Chinese players, Chen Xingtong and Wu Yang and won the women's singles title at German Open last month. Despite the 2 Chinese will not compete at the Asian Cup nor do the World Championships, it requires a certain skilfulness and strength to beat a Chinese player, not to mention, make it two in a row. Her teammate Miu Hirano completely blew the Chinese, including Chen Meng and Zhu Yuling away a year ago at the Asian Championships. Although the Chinese studied Miu Hirano thoroughly after the defeat putting Miu Hirano in a hard time, no one can count Miu Hirano out. 

 For the men, Koki Niwa is always fun to watch as he is the master of creative shots and the wonder kid Harimoto Tomokazu will be making his debut at the Asian Cup. I could not wait to see what they would put up in the tournament.

 As for the other players among the top 9, none were out of the mix of the podium, especially Chen Chien-An from Chinese Taipei who surprisingly won 3-2 over Fan Zhendong, the top seed of the meet last year, in stage 1 last year. Equally, Lee Sang Su, Wong Chun Ting, Cheng I-Ching, Lee Ho Ching and Doo Hoi Kem are very capable of making to the podium.
Competition format

The top 12 athletes (according to World Ranking) will be drawn into Group A, B and C to form groups of 4 while the remaining athletes will form Group D. A round-robin system is in play in stage 1. The top 2 players from Group A, B and C will directly qualify to stage 2. While the top player of Group D will join the third players in Group A, B and C to compete for the remaining 2 spots of Stage 2. Competitions in Stage 1 will be played under the best of 5 format. Stage 2 is a knockout stage where the best of 7 format in play. Players will not meet opponents from the same group and same delegation before semifinals.

 ITTF has listed the draw (WS & MS), lineup and schedule (GMT+ 9) for the 2018 Asian Cup.
Photo: ITTF

Photo: ITTF

Past Medalists

 You may learn more about the history of the Asian Cup in the following article.
Read: Throwback Thursday: 6 Memorable Moments at Asian Cup
Women's SinglesMen's Singles
YearHost cityGoldSilverBronzeGoldSilverBronze
1983WuxiCao YanhuaTong LingJiao ZhiminCai ZhenhuaJiang JialiangXie Saike
1984New DelhiTong LingNi XialianLee Mi-wooHui JunCai ZhenhuaXie Saike
1985SingaporeJiao ZhiminNi XialianCho Jong-huiChen LongcanJiang JialiangTeng Yi
1986KarachiHu XiaoxinZhu JuanCho Jong-huiWei QingguangFan ChangmaoKim Song-hui
1987SeoulJiao ZhiminLi HuifenHyun Jung-hwaTeng YiChen LongcanKim Ki-taik
1988ManilaDeng YapingLi HuifenChai Po WaWei QingguangChen LongcanKim Taek-soo
1989BeijingYu Sun-bokQiao HongChai Po WaKiyoshi SaitoMa WengeChen Longcan
1991 MayDhakaLee Jong-sukFan JianxinZhang QinWang YonggangLee Chul-seungKim Guk-chol
1991 NovManilaLiu WeiDeng YapingChai Po WaKim Guk-cholKim Song-huiLee Chul-seung
1992Hong KongDeng YapingGuo JunChan Tan LuiMa WengeLee Sang-joonLo Chuen Tsung
1993ShundeLiu WeiQiao HongRi Pun-huiLi Gun-sangWang TaoLiu Guoliang
1994ShanghaiQiao HongKim Moo-kyoJing JunhongLin ZhigangXiong KeYoo Nam-kyu
1996New DelhiWu NaLi JuChai Po WaMa LinWang LiqinShinnosuke Kiho
1997PuneWang ChenKim Boon-sikMiyoko TakahashiGuo KeliChetan BaboorLin Zhigang

2000

Mumbai

Tang Yuan

Guo Yue
Lao Sui Fei
Chen Tianyuan

Hao Shuai
Chetan Baboor
Zhang XuelingLeung Chu Yan
2003KitakyushuFan YingJiang HuajunTie YanaYe RuotingJong Kwan-hoykZhang Yang
2004KitakyushuTie YanaAi FukuharaLi JiaweiCheung YukXu HuiHou Yingchao

2005

New Delhi

Guo Yan

Li Xiaoxia
Tie Yana
Wang Hao

Hao Shuai
Li Ching
Zhang RuiYang Zi
2006KobeWang NanLi JiaweiLi NanWang HaoChen QiChiang Peng-Lung
2007HanoiJiang HuajunWang YueguKasumi IshikawaGao NingKim Jung-hoonJun Mizutani
2008SapporoGuo YueFeng TianweiLi JiaweiMa LongChen QiGao Ning
2009HangzhouGuo YueLiu ShiwenDing NingMa LongWang HaoZhang Jike
2010GuangzhouLiu ShiwenDing NingFeng TianweiZhang JikeGao NingXu Xin
2011ChangshaGuo YanJiang HuajunGuo YueMa LongXu XinKaii Yoshida
2012GuangzhouLiu ShiwenWu YangLi JiaweiXu XinMaharu YoshimuraJiang Tianyi
2013Hong KongLiu ShiwenWu YangKasumi IshikawaXu XinYan AnChuang Chih-yuan
2014WuhanDing NingLi XiaoxiaYu MengyuMa LongFan ZhendongJun Mizutani
2015JaipurFeng TianweiLiu ShiwenZhu YulingXu XinFan ZhendongJun Mizutani
2016DubaiLiu ShiwenLi XiaoxiaFeng TianweiXu XinZhang JikeWong Chun Ting
2017AhmedabadZhu YulingLiu ShiwenKasumi IshikawaLin GaoyuanFan ZhendongLee Sng Su


Don't hesitate and tell us your podium predictions of the 2018 Asian Cup in the comment box below.
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