Timo Boll who caught the corona virus shortly before the end of the year and his booster appointment probably experiences the saddest Christmas days. “I isolated myself from my wife and our daughter in quarantine ” said Houston’s World Championships bronze medalist. Dima OVTCHAROV does not fly in until Christmas Eve after commitments in the Russian League.
The busiest pre-Christmas season is traditionally spent by Dimitrij OVTCHAROV. Because Christmas is not celebrated in Russia until January 7th the Olympic medalists from Tokyo will be working individually until Christmas Eve for his Russian club Fakel Gazprom Orenburg before going to Sweden to see his daughter Emma his wife Jenny and their family. Whether OVTCHAROV will be able to stand at the table again under full stress after his ankle operation at the end of October and the subsequent rehab will be decided at short notice.
“Maybe I can already do one or two matches. But I am aiming for January ” said OVTCHAROV.
Petrissa Solja is so looking forward to giving presents that it has happened in the past that she distributed presents before Christmas. The two-time European champion celebrates the new year differently than usual:
“There is no big celebration on New Year’s Eve this year. I want to be fit for the wedding!” She says. Not for your own mind you. Her mixed partner Patrick FRANZISKA and the sister of World champion in doubles Kristian KARLSSON Frida have long been planning to give each other the church’s vows on January 1st. After all there are not many days in the tournament calendar when table tennis is reliably not played.
Nina MITTELHAM European team champion Europe Top 16 winner German individual champion: “I spend the Christmas days at home almost every year since I have come of age. This year we’re celebrating with my parents. We celebrated at my place for the last two years. On the 24th I will go to my parents for dinner unwrapping presents and games where my siblings my friend Sascha and I will be. “
Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Olympic second team Olympic third individual winner of the WTT premiere tournament: “I landed in Russia on Sunday and will be here until the 24th. Then I’ll go back in time for Christmas Eve to Jenny Emma and Jenny’s family to Sweden. “
