The individualists have to lead German table tennis in Munich to European Championship medals, because the doubles fail surprisingly early. The focus is now on Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Timo Boll
It was a tough piece of work, it took the opponent’s mistakes, it took a lot of willpower. And maybe it took this audience in Munich’s Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle for Timo Boll to finally be able to say with a laugh on Wednesday evening: “Anyone who still believes in me when we’re behind shouldn’t gamble.“
Yes, because he said it with a laugh, it quickly becomes clear: Table tennis record European champion Timo Boll had just won. But for a long time it really didn’t look like it against number 152 in the world, 20-year-old Samuel Kulczycki, in round one of the European Championship. However, one of the most famous athletes of these European Championships is still in business – even if it is a “tough business” was as he said himself.
Boll is 1:3 behind – and turns the game thanks to a series
The eight-time title holder averted the annoying failure, in the end the tinyness decided a set win: 4:3 it went out after Boll was already 3:7 behind in set five at a score of 1:3 – and not too many more on him bet. Especially since he only got the green light to take part in the European Championship last Thursday after breaking his ribs.
But then the viewers kept yelling this mantra: “Let’s go, Timo, let’s go!” Boll turned the game around thanks to six points in a row and was able to calmly say afterwards: “I know it’s hard for these young players to close a game like that”said the 41-year-old. “The arm always gets heavy. And even if I haven’t played that well up to that point, every point that you get back makes it all the more difficult for him.”
Boll already knows tough games at the beginning
Boll, who often finds it difficult at the beginning of tournaments, immediately thought of an episode from four years ago – with the grin that he kept the whole evening: “I can still remember Alicante. It was similar there: I also had an injury beforehand, had little training, just got through the first round with a big deficit against a young player.”he listed.
“And then stood at the top at the end. But until then I still have a hard road ahead of me.“Boll won the 2018 European Championship title in Alicante, his seventh at the time.
Table tennis doubles miss medals
So the not-so-beautiful Wednesday ended well for the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB). Finally, in the afternoon, the doubles were eliminated in the quarterfinals. After the mixed medal that was also missed, the DTTB team in Munich can only get individual precious metals – and that one year after the record balance at the European Championships in Warsaw with four gold and three silver medals.
“Of course you’re disappointed”said DTTB athletic director Richard Prause. “For us, this is a sign that everything is moving even closer together in Europe. We have to get on with it and do better for the future.”.
Men’s squad is one of the favorites
So the individuals have to deliver now. And what kind of world-class team do they have in German men’s table tennis: Four players are among the top 15 in the world. There are the old heroes, Germany’s number one, Dimitrij Ovtcharov, 33, (9th) and Boll, 41, (14th), who are always mentioned by everyone as co-favourites.
But the newcomers Patrick Franziska, 30, (12th) and Dang Qiu, 25, (13th) are also striving for their first big ones Single Achievements. The good news, everyone has made it through to the next round and five women are also in the top 32.
For men, however, there is also a “but” that comes into play: “I rode a lot on the ergometer, only stood a little on the plate”, said Boll about the time after his broken rib and the immediate EM preparation. He still lacked the anticipation of the opponent’s blows, which only came towards the end of the game.
Dimitrij Ovtcharov was out for eight months after ankle surgery
Olympic bronze medalist Ovtcharov was out for around eight months after two ankle operations and only made his comeback in June. Now in the 4-1 round in Munich against Martin Andersen, he moved fluently, but limited: “I haven’t played any competitions for a very long time, I’ve been out a really long time. That’s why I can’t say in my self-image as usual: Only the title counts for me.”
However, he believes “That I have the ability to win the tournament. But there are a lot of strong players here, it can sometimes go out earlier.“And Franziska hasn’t trained much lately either. However, he became a father during the European Championships, so he stopped training for a positive reason.
In any case, Boll seems reasonably fit again after breaking his ribs, not only because he won the marathon match in the deciding set. He also gave the green light for a long EM trip: “One or two games a day, I’ll be able to bite through themhe said. With a grin, of course.