World Championships | 10 May 2023

FILUS replaced injured Timo BOLL in team Germany

Ten days before the start of the World Championships in Durban (May 20th to 28th) and six days before the departure to South Africa, the ten players of the World Cup team, as well as the coaching staff of the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB), faced the media representatives at the German Table Tennis Center (DTTZ) in Düsseldorf, answering questions about the state of preparations of the team led by European champion Dang QIU and Europe-Top-16 winner HAN Ying. In South Africa, the World champions in men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, as well as mixed doubles, will be crowned in the second championships on the African continent since Cairo 1939.

Germany has won a total of 56 medals at World Championships - 5 gold, 19 silver, and 32 bronze. The last medal at an individual World Championship was two years ago in Houston (USA), where Timo BOLL secured a bronze in singles. In Durban, the record European champion, who is currently suffers by the shoulder injury, will be replaced by Ruwen FILUS.

Richard PRAUSE, the sports director of the German Table Tennis Association, sets the target for the championships in South Africa: "The first goal for all our athletes is to meet their seeding. We want to bring our best form to the table in Durban. Anything is possible at a World Championship, but it also depends on the draw."

The draw for all events will take place on May 18th in Durban.

In Durban, once again, the favorites come mainly from China. At the 2023 World Championships, the successors to FAN Zhendong (China, men's singles), WANG Manyu (China, women's singles), Mattias FALCK/Kristian KARLSSON (Sweden, men's doubles), SUN Yingsha/WANG Manyu (China, women's doubles), and WANG Chuqin/SUN Yingsha (China, mixed doubles) will be sought.

Richard Prause, Sports Director:

"Timo has been dealing with his shoulder injury for quite some time now. Although there have been positive developments, it doesn't make sense to rush things. We have important events ahead of us, and Timo should take all the time he needs to fully recover from this injury. Additionally, even someone like Timo cannot be sent to a World Championship without proper training, although he always manages to surprise and make progress during the tournament."

Men's National Coach Jörg ROSSKOPF: "Ruwen FILUS has achieved good international results in recent months, which is why the decision to replace Timo's spot with him was made quickly. Of course, we want to be represented in the tournament during the crucial final days. However, that will only happen if we manage to give our all right from the first round. All the players in our team are strong enough to have a say in the medal contention. The course of the World Championship is a mystery for all players, not just ours. Even China's defending champion FAN Zhendong had to face defeats during his preparation. I believe it will be an interesting World Championship, and it will be exciting to see who ultimately takes the podium places. Naturally, we hope for a positive outcome. Every success at the World Championship also boosts our confidence for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris."

Dang QIU, European Champion and World No. 10: "It's very difficult to make predictions. But I definitely want to go further than just the second round. My recent performances have shown progress in the right direction. Now, I want to step it up at the World Championship because, as an athlete, you always train for the big tournaments."

Dimitrij OVTCHAROV, Olympic bronze medalist: "Recently, I felt that my game was not completely in sync. I discussed this with National Coach Jörg ROSSKOPF and our video analysis expert Sascha NIMTZ, and we made some adjustments to my game. Currently, international table tennis involves dealing with many different balls and tables. My playing level is certainly high, and if I play to my strengths, I can be a dangerous adversary for anyone. I also talk a lot about table tennis with my father, and he tries to help me see some things in a more relaxed way. I am just as ambitious as ever, and I will give my all at this World Championship, including in the doubles with Patrick FRANZISKA. Let's see how it goes: we have our strengths and weaknesses."

Patrick Franziska, Europe Top-16 winner 2021: "I'm looking forward to the World Championship and will patiently wait to see how the draw turns out. All the players are excited to see how far we can go in Durban. Personally, I have trained very well, and winning the title with Saarbrücken in the Champions League has given me a lot of confidence."

Photo: PROBST

Tamara BOROS, the coach of the German national table tennis team, emphasizes that the most important aspect of their preparation for the World Championships is that all the players are currently free from injuries. Their goal is to showcase their best table tennis at the tournament. BOROS believes that they have the potential to reach the quarterfinals in one or two of the three competitions. However, she acknowledges that winning a medal will be very challenging.

HAN Ying, who won the Europe Top-16 tournament and is ranked 10th in the World, is optimistic about her set seeding position for the tournament. She hopes for a favorable draw that allows her to place herself accordingly. HAN highlights the importance of gaining experience through participating in tournaments prior to the World Championships, as it helps her maintain her competitive edge.

Nina MITTELHAM, the runner-up in the European Championships and ranked 14th in the world, had some health issues during the preparation period. However, she is feeling much better and has a positive outlook. MITTELHAM mentions her partnership with SHAN Xiaona in the doubles event, stating that although they haven't played together frequently in international competitions, they have good chemistry and can pose a challenge to their opponents if they both perform well.

Women’s team: HAN Ying (KTS Tarnobrzeg, Polen), Nina MITTELHAM (ttc berlin eastside), SHAN Xiaona (ttc berlin eastside), Sabine WINTER (TSV Schwabhausen), Annett KAUFMANN (SV Böblingen)

Men’s team: Dang QIU (Borussia Düsseldorf), Dimitrij OVTCHAROV (TTC Neu-Ulm), Patrick FRANZISKA (1. FC Saarbrücken TT), Ruwen FILUS (TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell), Benedikt DUDA (TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt).