Timo Boll, China's Equal
Apr. 18, 2006

Courtesy ITTF In the autumn of 2005, Germany's Timo Boll proved himself the equal of Chinese elite male players. At the LIEBHERR Men's World Cup in Li ège he beat Wang Liqin, Ma Lin and Wang Hao in the second stage of the competition; the three players who will spearhead the Chinese challenge at the LIEBHERR World Team Table Tennis Championships which start in Bremen on Monday 24th April 2006.

At the post tournament Press Conference, Boll stated that the victory was the best performance of his career and his efforts received high praise from Liu Guoliang, Head Coach of the Chinese Men's Team.

Just As Strong
"Boll is as strong as we are", said the man who in 1996 won the Men's Singles title at the Atlanta Olympic Games and in 1999 in Eindhoven was crowned World Champion. It was a ringing endorsement of the player, who in 2003 became the first German player ever ranked number one in the world.

However, after having climbed to the number one spot, Boll suffered back problems; he departed proceedings at the LIEBHERR World Championships in the second round and slipped down the rankings. Treatment from Dr Hand-Wilohelm Müller Wohlfahrt solved the injury problems. "Since the beginning of 2004, I have had no discomfort", said Boll. "Before then I could barely sleep, it is such a good feeling to have no more fear of stabbing pains."

A New Level
A fit Boll in 2005, he raised the standard of his play to new levels, he broke through new barriers and beating the top three Chinese players in the same tournament in Liège will rank as one his greatest achievements, whatever riches may lie in store in the future.

In the summer of 2006, he will have the chance to pit his skills against the Chinese once again when he plays in the Chinese Super League and in order to be able to converse with his newfound colleagues, he intends to take an intensive course in Chinese.

Crystal Ball Gazing
Two years ago in Doha, Germany finished as runners up to China and whether or not you are a supporter of either country surely it's a match you would love to see in Bremen.

If we look into the crystal ball, can Timo Boll repeat his exploits of late October 2005 in Liège, can home support lift him and his colleagues to greater heights? Can Jörg Rosskopf's experience prove crucial? Can the ever-reliable Christian Süss go one-step higher? Is the spirited Bastian Steger the man for the occasion? Or, could it just be a flash of brilliance from the somewhat unpredictable Zoltan Fejer-Konnerth that could have German hearts thumping?

I'll let Richard Prause, the Men's Coach of the German national team, solve those problems; of course the fixture may never happen, but if it does what an atmosphere there'll be in the AWD Dome, an occasion not to missed.