
#1
Ilija Lupulesku
Rating: 2793
Residence: Chicago, IL
Playing Style: Lefty steady two-winged shakehand looper
Member, 2004 U.S. Olympic Team & 2003 U.S. Pan Am Team
2002 & 2003 U.S. National Men’s Singles Champion
2003 U.S. National Men’s and Mixed Doubles Champion
2002 U.S Open Elite Singles and Over 30 Champion
2001 North American Teams Champion
1990 European Men’s Doubles Champion, 3-time Finalist
1988 Olympic Men’s Doubles Silver Medalist
1987 World Championships Men’s Doubles Finalist
Two-time European Mixed Doubles Champion, 2-time Finalist
Four-time Yugoslavian Men’s Singles Champion; 10-time Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles Champion
#2
David Zhuang
Rating: 2720
Residence: West Windsor, NJ
Playing Style: Pips-out penholder, close-to-table attack
1999 Pan Am Games Men’s Singles & Teams Gold Medalist
4-Time U.S. Men’s National Singles Champion
7-Time U.S. Men’s National Doubles Champion
6-Time U.S. Men’s National Mixed Doubles Champion
2003 U.S. National Men’s Doubles Champion, Men’s Singles Semifinalist
Member of 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Teams
Member of 2003 U.S. Pan Am Team
USOC Athlete of the Year for Table Tennis, 1996 & 2000
#3
Cheng Yinghua
Rating: 2677
Hometown: Germantown, MD
Playing Style: Two-winged shakehand looper and blocker
Three-time U.S. Men’s Singles Champion
Three-time U.S. Men’s Doubles Champion
Four-time U.S. Mixed Doubles Champion
1985 & 1993 U.S. Open Men’s Singles Champion
#1 ranked player in U.S. almost continuously, 1988-1998
Member of Chinese National Team, 1977-87
#4
Khoa Nguyen
Rating: 2640
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Playing Style: Aggressive shakehand 2-winged looper
Member, 2004 U.S. National & Olympic Team
2000 North American Men’s Singles Champion
1995 U.S. Men’s Doubles Champion
1995 Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles Finalist
Gold Medalist, 1987 Pan Am Games, Mixed Doubles; Silver Medalist, Men’s Teams
Member, 2000 USA Olympic Team
Many-time U.S. Team member since 1987
#5-6
Mark Hazinski
Rating: 2586
Residence: Mishawaka, IN
Playing Style: Shakehand power looper
Member, 2004 U.S. National & Olympic Team
2004 St. Joseph Valley Open Singles & Doubles Champion
2003 USATT Men’s Player of the Year
2003 U.S. National Men’s Singles Finalist
2003 U.S. National Men’s Doubles Semifinalist
2003 U.S. Open Under 22 Men’s Semifinalist
2003 Canadian Junior Open Bronze Team Medalist
1998-2001 Junior Olympic Gold Medalist in Singles & Doubles
2000-2002 U.S. National Championships U-22 Champion in Singles
2001-2002 U.S. National Championships U-18 Champion
#5-6
Barney Reed
Rating: 2586
Residence: San Diego, CA
Playing Style: Lefty shakehand two-winged looper
2004 Pac Rim Open Champion
2003 U.S. National Mixed Doubles Semifinalist, Men’s Doubles Quarterfinalist
Former member, U.S. National Team
1998 National Men’s Doubles Champion
1998 North American Men’s Doubles Champion
2000 Nationals Men’s Singles Quarterfinalist
2003 Eastern Open and Macy Block Open Champion
Finalist at 2003 NA Team Championships
#7
Eric Owens
Rating: 2577
Residence: Ft. Worth, TX
Playing Style: Aggressive shakehand looper with big forehand
2004 National Collegiate Men’s Singles & Mixed Doubles Champion
2004 SoCal Open Champion
2001 National Men’s Singles & Doubles Champion
Member of 2003 U.S. World & Pan Am Team
Member of 2000 Olympic Team
1999 Pan Am Games Men’s Team Gold Medal
1998 & 2000 North American Men’s Doubles Champion
1996 U.S. Under 22 Men’s Singles Champion
30+ USA National Junior Titles
#8
Han Xiao
Rating: 2545
Residence: Germantown, MD
Playing Style: Aggressive shakehand two-winged looper
Member, 2004 U.S. National Men’s and Junior Boys’ Teams
#1 ranked Under 18 player in U.S.
2003 National Men’s Singles Quarterfinalist
2002 USA Men’s Doubles Champion, Singles Quarterfinalist
2002 USATT Male Player of the Year
2003 U.S National Championships Men’s Singles & Doubles Quarterfinalist
2003 Canadian Junior Open Boys Team Bronze Medalist
Other Men to Watch:
Shao Yu of New York, rated 2544, has a dangerous pips-out backhand, and has beaten most of the best players in the U.S.
Todd Sweeris of Maryland, rated 2529, was on the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Teams, and made the final of Men’s Singles at the 1998 USA Nationals and the quarterfinals in 2002 & 2003.
Darko Rop of Texas, rated 2511, a lefty looper, was on the 2003 World Team, won a gold medal on the 1999 Pan Am Team, and Men’s Doubles at the 1995 USA Nationals.
Adam Hugh of New Jersey, rated 2490, is the top-ranked 16-year-old in the U.S., a member of both the U.S. National Men’s and Boys’ Teams, and made the semifinals of Men’s Singles in 2003.
#1
Gao Jun
Rating: 2643
Residence: Gaithersburg, MD
Playing Style: Pips-out penhold blocker/pick hitter
Member, 2004 U.S. National & Olympic Team
1999 & 2003 Pan Am Games Women’s Singles Gold Medal, 1999 Team Gold Medal
1992 Olympic Women’s Doubles Silver Medal
7-time (1996-2002) USA National Women’s Singles & Doubles Champion, 6-time Mixed Doubles Champion (undefeated at USA Nationals; did not play in 2003 or mixed doubles in 2002)
4-time North American Women’s Singles Champion, 3-time Doubles Champion
2003 World Championships Women’s Singles Quarterfinalist
1994 U.S. Open Women’s Champion
1991 World Championships Women’s Doubles Champion
Ranked #13 in the world
#2
Jasna Reed
Rating: 2472
Residence: Chicago, IL
Playing Style: All-around shakehander
Member, 2004 U.S. National & Olympic Team
2003 U.S. National Women’s Singles, Doubles & Mixed Doubles Champion
2001-2003 U.S. National Women’s Doubles Champion
2003 Pan Am Games Women’s Doubles Gold Medalist
1988 Olympic Women’s Doubles Bronze Medal
1992 European Women’s Doubles Champion
15-time Yugoslavian Champion in Women’s Singles, Doubles, Teams & Mixed Doubles
#3
Tawny Banh
Rating: 2465
Residence: San Gabriel, CA
Playing Style: Shakehand close to table with aggressive forehand loop,
backhand hit
Member, 2004 U.S. National & Olympic Team
2003 U.S. National Women’s Doubles Champion, Women’s Singles Finalist
2003 Pan Am Game Women’s Doubles Silver Medal, Women’s Singles Bronze Medal
2002-03 North American Championships Women’s Singles & Doubles Finalist
1999 Pan Am Games Team Gold Medalist
1995 Pan Am Games Women’s Team Silver Medal, Women’s Singles Bronze Medal
#4
Lily Yip
Rating: 2431
Residence: Warren, NJ
Playing Style: Pips-out penhold fast attack, strong backhand block
Member, 2004 U.S. National Team
2003 Pan Am Games Women’s Singles Silver Medalist
2003 U.S. National Women’s Singles Semifinalist, Women’s and Mixed Doubles Finalist, Over 40 Women’s Singles & Hardbat Singles Champion
2003 North American Women’s & Mixed Doubles Finalist
1995 Pan Am Games Women’s Doubles Gold Medal, Women’s Singles & Teams Silver Medal; 1991 Pan Am Games Women’s Doubles & Teams Gold Medal, Women’s Singles Silver Medal
1992-95 U.S. National Women’s Singles Finalist
1992-1995 U.S. National Women’s Doubles Champion
Member, U.S. Olympic Team, 1992 & 1996
#5
Jackie Lee
Rating: 2335
Residence: San Francisco, CA
Playing Style: Two-winged aggressive shakehand hitter
Member, 2004 U.S. National Team
2003 U.S. Open Under 18 & 22 Champion
2003 North American Under 18 Girls’ Singles Finalist
2002 U.S Open Mixed Doubles & Under 16 Girls’ Singles Champion; Under 22 & Under 18 Girls’ Singles Finalist
2002 U.S. National Mixed Doubles Champion, Girls’ Singles Under 22 & Under 19 Finalist
2002 Pan Am Games Junior Championships Under 18 Girls’ Champion
Joe Ferrell Memorial Award 1995-97
#6
Virginia Sung
Rating: 2291
Residence: New York, NY
Playing Style: Chopper with good attack
2001 National Women’s Singles Finalist
2000 National Women’s Singles Semifinalist
1998 Women’s Doubles National Champion
Former Member of U.S. National Team
#7
Whitney Ping
Rating: 2274
Residence: Beaverton, OR
Playing Style: Two-winged mid-distance shakehand looper
Member, 2004 U.S. Olympic Team
2002 U.S. National Women’s Singles Quarterfinalist, Under 22 & 18 Girls Champion
2002 North American Junior Girls’ Finalist
2001 Canadian International Junior Open Cadet Girls’ Champion
#8
Simone Yang
Rating: 2248
Hometown: Portland, OR
Playing Style: Steady shakehand blocker
2002 U.S. National Over 40 Women’s Singles Champion
2000, 2001 & 2003 National Women’s Doubles Finalist
1999-2002 National Women’s Singles Quarterfinalist
Former Member, U.S. National Team
Other Women to Watch:
Michelle Do, rated 2237, a strong two-winged looper, member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team, 2003 Women’s Singles Quarterfinalist & Women’s and Mixed Doubles Semifinalist, 1999-2000 Women’s Doubles Champion, and 2001 National Women’s Singles Semifinalist & Under 22 Women’s Singles Champion.
Judy Hugh, rated 2222, the #1 ranked Under 16 Girl in the U.S. and #2 Under 18, who made the final of Women’s Doubles in 2003 with mom Lily Yip (losing deuce in the fifth), and made the quarterfinals of Women’s Singles.
Photo Credits
©2004 Gerry Chua: Khoa Nguyen, Mark Hazinski, Barney J. Reed, Han Xiao, Gao Jun,
Jackie Lee and Whitney Ping.
©2004 John Oros: Ilija Lupulesku, David Zhuang, Cheng Yinghua, Eric Owens, Tawny
Banh, Lily Yip
©2004 James Do: Simone Yang.
©2004 kausphoto.com: Virginia Sung.
©2004 Larry Hodges: Jasna Reed.
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