Olympic bronze medalist Dimitrij Ovtcharov wants to stay at TTC Neu-Ulm after the escalated dispute with the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL).
“It is clear that I would like to try again in the Champions League next year with TTC Neu-Ulm and the same team. Whether I will then play in another league, for example in Japan or China, remains to be seen In any case, there are options,” said Ovtcharov when asked by “SID”.
The 34-year-old Ovtcharov recently caused a stir with public attacks on Borussia Düsseldorf manager Andreas Preuss. The exceptional player and club Neu-Ulm, who want to withdraw from the Bundesliga, had accused Preuss of conflicts of interest and influence. The successful manager is also a member of the supervisory board of the league.
“After all the emotions have unfortunately boiled up in the last few days, it is now important to calm down and let everything sink in. For me, the top 16 is first up for this weekend. After that, everything will be properly worked up again, discussions held and explored the possibilities,” explained Ovtcharov. A peace summit is to take place in Düsseldorf on Monday evening.
It seems unrealistic for Ovtcharov to remain in the Bundesliga. “Basically,” he explained, with a view to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, “my focus will be on the many international tournaments.”
In 2022, the TTC Neu-Ulm signed four world-class players in one fell swoop, including Ovtcharov. The clear goal is to win the Champions League, but in the league the stars are hardly used or not used at all.
In a dispute about bans because of assignments for other clubs abroad, the TTC announced its withdrawal, it wants to relegate voluntarily. The German Table Tennis Association (DTTB) checks the registration for the Champions League “without belonging to a national league”, it said in a statement on Monday evening.