The 43-year-old is looking forward to play at the PERFECT 2016 World Team TT Championships,
Three years after his retirement on the 2013 LEIBHERR World Championships in Paris, the 43-year-old Werner SCHLAGER is ready for his comeback at the Perfect 2016 World Team TT Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (February 28th – March 6th). As Austrian Table Tennis Association (OTTV) announced four days ago, the 2003 individual world champion will replace diseased Daniel HABESOHN.
„Since the start of the school of my son in September, I have again practiced regularly both, table tennis and gym. I quickly realized that I didn’t forget anything”, stated Werner SCHLAGER speaking for OTTV website.
Austrian legend saw peak of his career in 2003, when he beat Korean JOO Saehyuk 4:2 (11:9, 11:6, 6:11, 12:10, 8:11, 12:10) at the World Championship final in Paris. In the same city, three years ago, he was beaten by Patrick BAUM in straight games of Round 64.
Both, Werner SCHLAGER and OTTV stressed that easily agreed about his return after bad news from Daniel HABESOHN. Austrian national coach QIAN Qianli was fully convinced in his decision after SCHLAGER`s play at the recent Energis Masters Cup in Saarlouis, where he defeated, among others, the actual European Championsh Dimitrij OVTCHAROV.
The last non-Asian player who won World Championships, will inscribe his 17th appearance at these events. He debuted in Chiba in 1991. Beside individual gold from 2003, his best achievement is 1999 Eindhoven bronze medal in Singles Event. Regarding national team, two 5th places stands as his best results.
