China, Japan gain as USA retains Global Cup lead in May
The month of May brought very little change to the top ten positions in the Global Cup, the ranking of the world’s best sporting nations,
but saw two powerful Asian nations close the gap on top-of-the-table USA.
China, winner of the monthly ranking after strong performances at the Table Tennis World Team Championships and the Badminton Uber and Thomas Cups, leapt five places up the table, though it still remains ‘only’ 12th. Japan won the monthly Badminton ranking and sneaked into the top ten, just ahead of the Netherlands, edging Austria out of the elite.
Both Asian powers have improved their positions significantly compared to the Global Cup ranking after May 2017, when China was 21st and Japan 15th, though they are still ranked lower than they were at the end of 2017, when China finished 6th (their joint-worst result in the last five years) and Japan 8th.
Another remarkable improver was Switzerland: it was 7th with a 5.2% share of the points at the end of May 2017, and it is currently 5th with a 5.4% points share, as well as retaining a best-ever second place in the Per Capita Cup, the ranking of the world’s sportiest nations. The Alpine country built on a strong performance in the Winter Olympics (7th overall) and added a surprising but well-earned silver medal in the Ice Hockey World Championships in May. The latter was the year’s last tournament in Snow and Ice sports – which for the first time ever were won by Norway – and the scene is now set for a highly competitive summer season of sports.
