"The last four": Bad Königshofen with a declaration of war before the start of the season

With king transfer Yukiya Uda and a lot of self-confidence TSV Bad Königshofen starts the new season of the Table Tennis Bundesliga (TTBL). Coach Koji Itagaki even set the top four as his goal at the team presentation.

Even if TSV Bad Königshofen likes to see itself as the underdog, the team from Lower Franconia has long since established itself in the German Table Tennis League (TTBL) - and is now even preparing to keep an eye on the play-offs. In the previous season, personnel problems in the winter had prevented a possible attack on the top four, in the season before Bad Königshofen had only fallen back to eighth place in the final spurt. In the sixth TTBL season it should work now for the first time with the play-off participation.

At least that's what Koji Itagaki hopes: "The last four," the TSV coach replied recently at the team presentation, when asked about his team's objective. Itagaki's hopes are being nurtured by a newly strengthened squad. Bad Königshofen caused a sensation in the spring with the introduction of Yukiya Uda, who brought a top international star to Germany. The Japanese player is currently ranked 26th in the world. "We simply had to seize this opportunity," said Andreas Albert, Managing Director Sport of the Lower Franconian team, at the time.

Bastian Steger: "I like it very much in this family atmosphere".

The prospect of playing in one of the strongest leagues in the world was what attracted him to the move to Bad Königshofen, Uda now said. He came to Germany, he said, "because the opponents in the Japanese professional league don't play at such a high level." Uda's goals are high - individually it should be the qualification for the World Cup and the Olympic Games in 2024, and there if possible a medal. In addition to Uda, Bastian Steger, Kilian Ort and Filip Zeljko will continue to play for Bad Königshofen in the new season, as will Martin Allegro, another newcomer. For the first time, TSV will start a TTBL season with five regular players. Maksim Grebnev, on the other hand, has left the club, having switched to TTC Neu-Ulm after a season in Lower Franconia (3:12 record in singles, 5:3 in doubles).

Steger again emphasized the special atmosphere in Bad Königshofen. "I must say that I like it here excellently in this family atmosphere," said the 41-year-old. "The contact with the sponsors, the helpers and fans is very close. Bad Königshofen is already exceptional in the Bundesliga." It will be a new experience for Allegro, who has come from the French Pro B of LNTT Roanne: "I'm looking forward to having these fantastic spectators on my side now. The atmosphere here in the hall is unique, not only in Germany, in all of Europe," the Belgian number one already stated. Although the jump from the second French league to the TTBL is huge, "based on my results, I am very confident," Allegro added.