Champions League Men | 6 Oct 2017

Michael MAZE still enjoys playing table tennis

Former European champion helped Rosklide to win TTCLM Round 1 game against K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo. MAZE: “I have to admit that I did not even count on playing so well”. BENTSEN: “Our aim stays same

 

The lower-seeded TTCLM club Roskilde Bordtennis BTK 61 (no. 16 seed) opened new season by unexpected win, playing away against no. 6 seed K.S. Dekorglass Dzialdowo from Poland. Danish side won 3:2 last Sunday, as the 2009 European champion in Men`s Singles event, Michael MAZE had successful comeback to Table Tennis Champions League Men.

 

“This was a very good start, but we are still the “underdogs” in this tournament”, stated Roskilde`s team manager Allan BENTSEN. “But with this win, we have for sure god a good confidence and can use it for a lot. Last year we have lost all matches and wasn’t so funny. But now we will have chance to do a surprise and maybe take one off the places for next round. From the start we wear hoping to make some surprises and maybe take third place and this still will be our goal.”

 

One of the best European players in the last 15 years, 36-year-old Michael MAZE announced his retirement a year and a half ago, but decided to try to help his club. Playing against Polish side, he beat Jiri VRABLIK, and managed to extend World no. 12 Kenta MATSUDAIRA to full distance (2:3).

 

“I was really surprised that MAZE could play like he did, but he had now some rest and his body is ok, and he had a lot of fun. So maybe he can make more good performance in next matches”, explains BENTSEN.

 

Michael MAZE, individual bronze medalist from the 2005 World Championships in Shangai, admitted that he was surprised by his own play:

 

”I have to admit that I did not even count on playing so well, except for the last three days before the match I had not exercised much since the summer. But the body is good, and then I can still be lucky to hit the ball well.”

 

Roskilde hosts Hennebont in the Round 2, October 13th, 19:30 CET. French side also created upset in the opening round, beating away ten times TTCLM winner and actual no. 2 seed Borussia Dusseldorf 3:2.

 

“The game against Hennbont will be as difficult as all others. They beat Dusseldorf. But we hope to have a full hall behind us, and that our players can find the good level again. Then everything can happen”, concluded Allan BENTSEN.