Championships prospects: Draw results unveiled

A pool draw was held on April 25 to decide the progression of players into the next stage of the World Table Tennis Championships held in Suzhou. As the tournament progresses, several highlights of the event are still to come.

Ding Ning (second right, first row), No.1 seed at the Women's Singles Championships draws lots for with her teammate Liu Shiwen, No.2 seed. [Photo/Zhong Xinyuan]

Men's Singles: World current No.1 and No.1 seed Ma Long received a fortune draw in the 1/4 district, while defending champion Zhang Jike in the 3/4 district will likely face his teammate Liang Jingkun as early as Round 3. China's Xu Xin was also drawn into the bottom division, leaving a possible encounter might with Zhang in the semi-finals.

Women's Singles: China's Ding Ning and Wu Yang, Singapore's Feng Tianwei and Japan's Ishikawa Kasumi are in the upper division. China's Liu Shiwen may face teammate Zhu Yuling in the quarter-finals and defending champion Li Xiaoxia in semifinals.

Men's Doubles: The high-profile international pair Ma Long and Timo Boll may face their biggest challenge yet, as they gear up for a potential meeting with Zhang Jike and Xu Xin as early as Round 2.

Women's Doubles: China's Li Xiaoxia and Ding Ning will meet Japan's Fukuhara Ai and Wakamiya Misako, the No.1 seed in the women's doubles tournament of the 2015 Championships.

Mixed Doubles: Chances for the golden medal are free for all in this contest, as athletes show balanced strength, which will lead to constant and high-quality matches.