Timo Boll’s successful career is being expanded to include another important chapter: the table tennis veteran will take part in the Olympic Games this summer for the seventh time. This would make the 43-year-old the record Olympian in his sport, along with five others.
As the German Table Tennis Association (DTTB) announced on Tuesday, Boll will not be suggested for the individual competition in Paris, but he should play for a medal with the team. The final decision will ultimately be made by the nomination committee of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) in May at the earliest.
Mystery about the German squad
Germany’s number one and Olympic debutant Dang Qiu as well as the Olympic record medalist Dimitrij Ovtcharov are scheduled to compete in the individual event. Patrick Franziska takes on the role of supplementary player.
Never before had the decision been so difficult for national coach Jörg Roßkopf, and never before had there been so much mystery about the German squad. With Qiu, Ovtcharov, Boll, Franziska and Benedikt Duda, five players fought for the coveted starting places. It is hardly surprising that Boll was not suggested for the individual competition.
After a long-term shoulder injury, he drew attention again with impressive performances by winning the WTT tournament in Doha in January and reaching the quarter-finals in Singapore a few weeks ago. At the same time, however, Qiu presented himself in too strong a form; Ovtcharov was considered more or less sedate anyway. Boll’s big dream of finally winning an individual Olympic medal in Paris has finally shattered.
Timo Boll is fighting for a medal with the team at the Olympic Games. : Image: dpa
Ultimately, however, he can be more than satisfied with his starting place in the team squad. Because he was anything but certain. While Franziska is currently ranked 16th in the world, the 43-year-old is ranked 27th.
Due to an eye infection, he was prevented from taking part in the team world championships in February, which gave him an important opportunity to present himself on a big stage. At the same time, Franziska recently impressed with very strong performances and was able to beat table tennis legend Ma Long from China and Ovtcharov in Singapore.
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“It was a very difficult and very hard decision,” Roßkopf told the FAZ. The decisive factor was ultimately Boll’s victories in January and at the Smash in Singapore against top players, the experience and the respect of the opponents. “But in the end it is a decision that can be discussed in both directions,” emphasized the national coach. “But we also know that we absolutely need Patrick because we have a team that is prone to injuries.” We need him in preparation, in Paris and in the future anyway.
