Champions League (1st day). GV Hennebont TT – SCTT Wiener Neustadt (AUT), this Sunday (5 p.m.)
“We know that with the Olympics, it’s going to be a bit of a special year.” Even before the start of the season, Boris Abraham expected to inherit some logistical or sporting headaches. But the manager of GV Hennebont TT had not prepared for so many imponderables upon entering the Champions League, the semi-finals of which have eluded him since 2009.
For the reception of the Austrians in Wiener Neustadt, there will be no Karlsson on the scoresheet. “He was granted the favor of competing in the WTT Contender in Antalya (semi-finalist in the doubles after being eliminated in singles early by a certain… Chuang) so that he could qualify for the Olympic Games as quickly as possible,” explains President Bruno Abraham. But the Hennebont staff had not anticipated that their British recruit, invigorated by the Breton air, would be injured during his first final (last Sunday, against the Brazilian Calderano) on the international circuit for ages.
“As his knee was not reducing swelling, his federation logically asked him to have an MRI,” remarks Boris Abraham. The young Romanian Chirita, recent winner of the European Top 10 under 18, also unavailable, it is a decimated and inexperienced Hennebont team which will challenge the Austrians from Wiener Neustadt.
A second match not yet established
And the second European round does not look any simpler: after having agreed to play at Thorigné next Friday, the Hennebontais leaders are for the moment stuck facing the request – a priority and for the moment unresolved – from the Poles of Dzialdowo to play the same day…
With in between, the Chartres reception on Tuesday. Karlsson will have returned, Pitchford perhaps on his feet, but the Hennebont Champions League, even before it has started, probably already has a little lead in the wing.
Also, Bruno Abraham stuck to his pre-season directives: “The priority is Pro A. When we see that Montpellier – which has certainly only played once with the two Lebrun brothers – is at the back ranking…”
GV Hennebont TT: Sidorenko (RUS), Guillen (IRL), Wang (FRA).
SCTT Wiener Neustadt (AUT): Ueda (JAP), Khanin (BLR), Ban (CRO), Kojic (CRO), Mullner (AUT), Ye (AUT).
2023-10-22 04:34:21
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