Doubles partners from Suzhou will play together once again at the LIEBHERR 2017 World Championships in Dusseldorf (May 29th – June 5th)
Two table tennis legends Germany`s Timo BOLL and China`s MA Long will be once again doubles partners at the LIEBHERR 2017 World Championships in Dusseldorf (May 29th – June 5th). Their partnership commenced successfully four years ago as they won 2013 ITTF World Tour in the Chinese city of Chengdu whilst their debut at the world championships was below their expectations. In the 2015 World Championships in Suzhou they were eliminated in the second round by the eventual champions XU Xin and ZHANG Jike from China.
“I am looking forward to our second partnership at a World Championships” stated Timo BOLL. “On one hand I have a good contact with MA Long also away from the table while on the other hand our performances at the both China Open 2013 and 2015 in Suzhou brought memorable moments for both of us in spite of reaching different results. This is our third attempt as well as one more career highlight for me to play with MA Long at home soil in Dusseldorf.”
MA is actual World No. 1 and both World and Olympic champion. Six times individual European champion BOLL currently occupies World No. 12.
German Table Tennis Association (DTTB) also announced that Petrissa SOLJA will play in the Mixed Doubles alongside Chinese FANG Bo. Sport director of DTTB Richard PRAUSE stressed that these two partnerships are result of good relations with Chinese federation while DTTB president Michael GEIGER added:
“This is a special gesture from China with respect to the German Table Tennis Association and German sport which Timo BOLL has been representing in a good light in China in the last fifteen years. It will be a good thing for the table tennis fans.”
Petrissa SOLJA is delighted by the fact that she plays alongside World`s No. 10:
“It will be very special for me to play beside such good player from the strongest world table tennis nation. XU Xin and YANG Haeun showed how successful this can work when they became world champions two years ago in Suzhou.”
