"So much depends on a red wheelbarrow," wrote William Carlos Williams, "glazed with rainwater beside the white chickens." Wong Chun Ting (pictured) could certainly argue that even more depends on his right ankle. Hong Kong's 28-year-old ace took a painful tumble playing Xu Xin at last week's T2 Diamond Singapore tournament. Wong was forced to withdraw from the prestigious and lucrative event, hobbling off on his heavily wrapped ankle with the support of medics. The butterfly effect is already swirling. The first recorded effect is Wong's official withdrawal from the ITTF Men's World Cup, to be held November 29-December 1 in Chengdu, China. The vacuum created by Wong's sudden vacancy has drawn Quadri Aruna from his native Nigeria to Chengdu. Aruna, 31, gets a surprise invite to his fifth World Cup after failing to qualify directly at the African Cup. As if this were not enough chaos, there are also major questions looming about the ITTF World Tour Grand Finals, to be held December 12-15 in Zhengzhou, China. Wong had previously missed qualifying for the season-culminating tournament by one spot, only to receive a windfall when China's Wang Chuqin was suspended for disciplinary reasons. Now, with Wong Chun Ting's health in question, his first reserve position may be passed over in favor of second reserve Koki Niwa of Japan. With big prize money and precious world ranking points at stake in both the World Cup and Grand Tour Finals, the world of competitive table tennis is completely at the mercy of Wong Chun Ting's ankle. Sorry, red wheelbarrow. At least the chickens still depend on you.

More at ITTF