Member Associations | 18 Apr 2011

Timo BOLL towards Rotterdam: “You can not force the medal”

19/04/2011 – The greatest challenge to Asian supremacy at the World Championships in Rotterdam will came from Germany, to be precise from Timo BOLL. German star started this year on position no. one at the ITTF list, but month before the Championshi

19/04/2011 – The greatest challenge to Asian supremacy at the World Championships in Rotterdam will came from Germany, to be precise from Timo BOLL. German star started this year on position no. one at the ITTF list, but month before the Championships Timo is second. No meter his position, he is still Europe’s no one and his appetites for the trophy at the World’s individual championships are yet to be satisfied.

Timo is topping the list of 12 names of German men’s and women’s team. At the press conference Men`s national coach Jorg ROSSKOPF talked about the team’s goals: “It is difficult to be in top shape to the point. We travel with small and big goals for this Championship. If everything comes together – a good draw, the correct form on the day and good luck – we will achieve our goals in Rotterdam. Still, the pressure is high and it will become even higher in the last 32 or 16. Timo has a chance, but for him it is very difficult. I mean, not only because of the Chinese, but also because of many other good Asians. Jun MIZUTANI plays, for example, in a very good shape. It is difficult for everyone play against MIZUTANI. There were rarely Championships, in which at the end, the top seeded players won the medals.”

Timo BOLL admitted: “I have to fight from round to round and I hope that in the end it will lead to the medal. That is the big goal. You can not force the medal, because the competition is very strong. Matches at the highest level already cost a lot of power. If you get far, you need a lot of energy. I did not want to risk losing important percent of my strength in the doubles, if I want to play for a medal in the singles.”

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV remained us of his last Championships result: “Two years ago in Yokohama, I have failed in the round of 16 against the Chinese MA Long.. I will do everything to improve this result in Rotterdam.”

Patrick BAUM has not specific goal, as he said: “I want to play my best table tennis in the singles and doubles. I am very well prepared for the World Cup.” Bastian STEGER added: “I have no concrete goal for the Championships. I am not saying I want to reach a special round. That would be the wrong way. I want to do my best as always – in singles and doubles with Patrick.”

Chrisitan SUSS played with Elke SCHALL the quarterfinals in Yokohama. “This time I will miss the Mixed Doubles in Rotterdam. In singles I am not one of the direct medal candidates. We will see what is possible when I get my top form..”

Women`s Coach Jorg BITZIGEIO said that everyone dreams about the world championships title or winning a medal. “We go with a powerful team for the World Championships. It is a good mix of experienced and young players. They trained hard for success. We will not hide from any adversaries. At the World Championships in Moscow, we have gained respect and we have a lot of confidence in the competitions. Our opponents have to stretch in Rotterdam in order to beat us.”

WU Jiaduo: “I would be happy if I had not to play against a Chinese too early. At the last World Championships that was in the Round of 32. This time, hopefully only in the last 16 or eight. I do not feel any great pressure, think from round to round and try to show my best form.” Kristin SILBEREISEN: “I will start with the confidence of the number 38 in the world.” Zhenqi BARTHEL has very bussy schedule in Rotterdam: “With three Events, in which I will play, it will be a long and exhausting tournament. It is difficult, because there are many good players, especially a lot of good Asian. Therefore I did not set a goal. I just want to show my best table tennis.”

Sabine WINTER: “I do not want to rest on the success of the World Team Championships 2010, but keep training hard and playing well. I want to be in top form in Rotterdam and show a good performance.” Kathrin MUHLBACH: “The World Cup nomination itself is my biggest success so far. I am really looking forward to Rotterdam. Therefore I train now even more intense, harder, and longer. Probably I have to play the qualifications and I hope that I reach the main draw.”

THE GERMAN TEAM
Men`s singles: Timo BOLL (Club: Borussia Dusseldorf, Age: 30 years), Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (Fakel Gazproma Orenburg/Russia, 22), Patrick BAUM (Borussia Dusseldorf, 23), Bastian STEGER (1. FC Saarbr??n, 30), Christian SUSS (Borussia D??ldorf, 25), Zoltan FEJER-KONNERTH (AS Pontoise-Cergy TT, France, 32), Ruwen FILUS (TTF LIEBHERR Ochsenhausen, 23).

Men`s Doubles: BAUM/STEGER, FEJER-KONNERTH/FILUS

Women`s Singles: WU Jiaduo (Club, Age: 32), Kristin SILBEREISEN (FSV Kroppach, 26), Zhenqi BARTHEL (Hassia Bingen, 24), Sabine WINTER (TSV Schwabhausen, 18), Kathrin M??ACH (TSV Schwabhausen, 19

Women`s Doubles: BARTHEL/SILBEREISEN, WINTER/WU

Mixed Doubles: FILUS/M??ACH, FEJER-KONNERTH/BARTHEL

(by Martin OETZMANN, courtesy DTTB)

Photo: Timo BOLL and Christian SUSS (Photo Schillings)