Other Events | 18 Apr 2015
Germany aim for medal in Suzhou
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV World’s no 6 and Petrissa SOLJA World’s no. 22 will lead Germany’s Men and Women team at the QOROS 2015 World Table Tennis Championships to be held in Suzhou, China on 26 April – 3 May 2015. German coach Jörg ROS
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV World’s no 6 and Petrissa SOLJA World’s no. 22 will lead Germany’s Men and Women team at the QOROS 2015 World Table Tennis Championships to be held in Suzhou, China on 26 April – 3 May 2015.
German coach Jörg ROSSKOPF underlined that the players are highly motivated. “They have big goals, I notice this fact during the training. They work very hard, they are focused and very concentrated.”
When we speak about German team the aim is always high. “We have our chances. We do not going to the World Championships, to reach the quarter final. We want maximum. We have the chance to win medals and try to reach our best.”
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV is well aware of the enormity of the challenge that awaits in China. “I am honest. There is the chance to win a medal. Okay, compared to a European Championships the World Championships are on another level, the competition is very strong. I also can lose in the last 64, but I am going to Suzhou to win a medal. Before London 2012 I did the same way.”
ZHANG Jike is the reigning champion. Another one, the winner in singles in Rotterdam 2011, MA Lin will team up with Timo BOLL in doubles. “As I know Ma Long, he will be extremely motivated and ambitious. I believe he will train much harder than all other Chinese players. Already at German Open he made a very good impression. I have no worries about him (laughing).For sure we have a good chance in doubles, to become World Champion. Anyway I think more about the singles competition, although the chances in doubles are quite bigger.”
National Coach Jie SCHÖPP was cautious speaking about chances of the Women’s team. “I hope my players will play their best table tennis they can do. If they reach the best shape, victories against higher ranked players are possible.”
Top star, young Petrissa SOLJA spoke about her goals. “After the German Open I had so much self-confidence that I managed to hit each ball. Now it is more difficult. I hope that I can repeat my performance from Bremen. First I have to wait for the draws. My goal is to reach the Top 20 in the world. Maybe it will be after the World Championships.”
Men’s team: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (26, Fakel Orenburg, World Rankings: 6); Timo BOLL (34, Borussia Düsseldorf, World Rankings: 7); Bastian STEGER (34, SV Werder Bremen TT, World Rankings: 26); Steffen MENGEL (26, TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt, World Rankings: 31); Patrick FRANZISKA (22, Borussia Düsseldorf, World Rankings: 56)
Women’s team: Petrissa SOLJA (21, ttc berlin eastside, World Rankings: 22); Kristin SILBEREISEN (30, ttc berlin eastside, World Rankings: 39); Irene IVANCAN (31, Fenerbahce Istanbul TUR, World Rankings: 41); Sabine WINTER (22, SV DJK Kolbermoor, World Rankings: 61); Nina MITTELHAM (18, TuS Bad Driburg, World Rankings: 89)
Doubles: Timo BOLL / MA Long (GER / CHN); Bastian STEGER / Patrick FRANZISKA; Petrissa SOLJA / Nina MITTELHAM; Kristin SILBEREISEN / Sabine WINTER; Steffen MENGEL / Petrissa SOLJA
Coach: Jörg ROSSKOPF, ZHU Xiaoyong, Jie SCHÖPP, WAN Guohui
