Boll trusts his “heirs” to win a medal

The record-breaking champion believes that the German men will be in contention for a medal at the European Championships in Linz.

Record champion Timo Boll firmly believes in his “heirs”. For the eight-time individual European champion, his former teammates around defending champion Dang Qiu are among the medal candidates at the European Table Tennis Championships in Linz. “I think they can all compete for a place on the podium,” the 43-year-old told the SID, ”they are in good shape and have the potential.”

Boll himself will not be in Linz as he is currently abroad. However, he will certainly be following the title fights on the internet. The Odenwald native, who carried the German flag at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, is of course aware of the difficulty of the task. “The field has narrowed. The competition has caught up,” said Boll, referring to one duo in particular: Paris bronze medallist Felix Lebrun from France and Swedish Olympic silver medallist Truls Möregardh.

Boll was able to see the strength of the next generation for himself at the Summer Olympics this summer. The German team lost 3-0 to Möregardh and his Swedes in the quarter-finals without a chance. After Paris, Boll ended his international career as announced. He will continue to play for the German record champions Borussia Düsseldorf this season.

The Germans would meet Truls Möregardh (22) and Felix Lebrun (18) in the semi-finals. Dang Qiu could play Möregardh, the winner of a possible German quarter-final between Patrick Franziska and Dimitrij Ovtcharov would meet Lebrun. In addition to Qiu, Franziska and two-time Olympic bronze medallist Ovtcharov, European champion in 2013 and 2015, Benedikt Duda is still in the singles. There is also a duo hoping to qualify for the main draw: 18-year-old youth champion Andre Bertelsmeier and Fanbo Meng (23).

Source: SID
Featured image above: Timo Boll (Photo: AFP/SID/WANG ZHAO)