Just like in other countries in Europe activities in the Czech Republic were halted in the middle of March. No competitions have taken place since and it has not been possible to have trainings inside. Players have been preparing individually and their trainings can officially start on May 11 from when the inside trainings are to be allowed under strict health conditions.
On April 21 2020 the management of the Czech Table Tennis Association decided to end all league competitions.
“It was one of the most difficult decisions ever since I have been working in the Association management. We knew that any option that we would choose would be wrong. Never before we had to interfere so much in the functioning of the Association including all regional associations and all sport clubs. But the situation demanded it. After many many years we will not have the champion of the Republic in the team competition ” explained Petr BOHUMSKÝ a member of the Czech Table Tennis Association Executive Committee and an experienced international umpare.
Two past months were supposed to be crucial for a dream come true for Pavel ŠIRUČEK. He worked hard to play at his first Olympics but the pandemic changed everything.
“I work to be at the Olympics and at the moment I have it within reach it is unfortunately postponed. Now I have no idea how the qualification will continues.“
Just like other athletes he experienced the exact opposite of a nomadic life for a few weeks. He stayed in Poland where he played for Dartom Bogoria Grodzisk Mazowiecki in the last season.
“It is unusual I have been on the road all my life and practically I am not much at home. On the other hand I have to say I have more time for myself and I have been happy at home. But I am looking forward to be training again. I believe it will be soon.“
The best Czech female player Hana MATELOVÁ travelled to Düsseldorf Germany on Wednesday (May 6) where she lives and trains.
“I count with the fact that I need to be in quarantine for two weeks but I better do it now than in a few weeks. The league competition in France is cancelled and we know it will not start sooner than in October. So I will be waiting for the inside trainings to be allowed again and will start then. It is very hard to say when the tournaments will start and I am not thinking about that now.”
The manager of the Czech national team Petr NEDOMA believes that all players who currently live in the Czech Republic will start with their trainings in a few days.
“Regional and youth sport centers will open on Monday May 11. New representation centre in Havířov will open in summer.
“We have many of our players outside the Czech Republic at the moment. MATELOVÁ POLANSKÝ MARTINKO are in Germany ŠIRUČEK in Poland but in summer months we all could have trainings together in the new modern centre. And if all goes according to the plan in June we would like to hold national control tournaments for selected players of all age categories -all in accordance with any other regulations of the Government of the Czech Republic. And we are of course waiting for the final decision of ITTF and of the Government of the Czech Republic regarding the organisation of the ITTF World Tour Czech Open tournament in August this year.”
