Timo Boll: My Goal at the Olympics Is to Win Gold
October 2, 2007

An individual gold medal in Beijing is the goal of the best European player of the present. Photo By: Jin Lian

Courtesy of ITTF Timo Boll has set a goal for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: he hopes to win an individual gold medal. According to the official website of the Games, the German table tennis ace realizes that he will be competing against many powerful athletes during the Games, and also that a part of winning depends on chance.

The Chinese players and Others
With regard to his most feared competitors, Boll named the Chinese team. Regardless of the line up of players, he believes that any one of the Chinese team members will undoubtedly be a threat to him. He described their technique as stable, and the difference in skill level between teammates almost negligible.

Despite the home court advantage, Boll believes that the Chinese team will also have a lot of pressure competing in their home country. In addition to China, Boll mentioned defending Olympic champion Ryu Seung Min of Korea and several European players, saying that it would be no surprise if any of those players were to win in the end.

Beijing now and then
Boll visited Beijing 10 years ago as a 16-year-old for a competition. He compares the changes in Beijing to the difference between day and night. He is excited about once again competing in Beijing, in the Olympic Games in 2008 and even more excited about the prospect of competing in the home country of so many formidable table tennis players.