Clubs also celebrate World Cup silver: "A sign of our strong league".
The success of the German men's team at the World Championships in Chengdu has also created a spirit of optimism in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL). Among the clubs, relief at the successful initiation of a generational change is mixed with hopes for positive effects of the silver medal for the highest German division.
The silver medal for the German men at the World Team Championships in Chengdu, China, continues to be a topic of conversation. In a random survey of the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL) among its clubs, managers and coaches overall naturally expressed satisfaction with the trend-setting success of a new generation of players behind the "big three," but also linked the improved prospects for the future with hopes for positive developments in the elite class.
In many clubs, those responsible registered the successful World Cup baptism of fire for the team around European champion Dang Qiu recognizably with relief. Most of the reactions showed a previous uncertainty about future chances of success after the "Timo Boll generation".
"We don't have to be afraid of the 2028 and 2032 Olympics".
"The result shows that there is no need to fear a vacuum in German table tennis without the three long-time top players," says sports director Tomasz Kasica of FSV Mainz 05. At champions Borussia Düsseldorf, manager Andreas Preuß assesses the prospects similarly: "We don't have to be afraid of the 2028 and 2032 Olympics."
His colleague Thomas Stecher from Post SV Mühlhausen also made no secret of his enthusiasm: "The team was fun and offered great table tennis. Even the supposed B-suit is a tuxedo that fits, looks quite exquisite and with which one can be very successful. This rejuvenated team has fit big shoes to fill."
In general, the World Cup success of the German team is also immediately classified as proof of quality in the TTBL. "This success," explains something manager Martin Werner of ASV Grünwettersbach, "this success shows how strong the TTBL is, and that the TTBL is probably the strongest league in the world after the Chinese Super League." For Preuß, the silver medal is "a sign of our strong league" and for Werder Bremen's coach Cristian Tamas it is proof "that we have a really high level in the TTBL".
Manager Stefan Frauenholz from TTC RhönSprudel Fulda-Maberzell also derives the desire for higher attendance at the league matches from the radiance of the World Cup final: "I hope that this beautiful success will also attract more spectators to our halls." At TSVB Bad Königshofen, manager Andreas Albert also sees "that the TTBL, with its world-class players and exciting matches, will become even more interesting as a result of the World Cup success," but at the same time warns against excessive complacency: "The World Cup also showed that other countries have caught up. So we have to keep delivering talented and good players at the grassroots level."
Players from the silver quintet "stand for the next generation".
In Stecher's view, the silver quintet can have an even more positive impact on the TTBL's external image: "Without question, they all stand for the next generation. They are all young, modern, strong nerves and strong fighters and can provide a breath of fresh air without having to retire the current stars right now."