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Not only does the red bull make you fly: German Butterfly teams with good chances
Ostrava: If it was up to Timo Boll, then the Butterflies will also fly to the top at the European Championships in Ostrava (11th to 19th of September). The number two of the world ranking list is the number one seed in the Czech Republic in three events and he wants to focus on one target first: “If the German Butterfly Team wins the gold medal for the fourth time in a row then we have reached our most important target already in the first part of the European Championships. Afterwards I will try, of course, to go all the way in the singles and in the doubles with my partner Christian Suess. These tactics worked quite well the last time.”
How successful this strategy of working from game to game is, has been proven by the most prominent Tamasu partner four times before. In 2002, 2007 and 2008 the exceptional 29 year old won the gold medal in the singles and doubles. At the EC in Stuttgart Boll also won gold in the doubles and bronze in the singles. Only Denmark’s Butterfly Michael Maze went past him to win his first title.
The duel of the two charismatic but completely different super stars will also be one of the main attractions of the tournament. In 2009 in Stuttgart Boll, who was still suffering from the consequences of an injury, lost only two games and both against Maze. This time the German feels better prepared: “My body is fitter than last year. At the Chinese Open at the beginning of August I played quite well at this early stage of the season.” Boll is hoping for another increase of his form before the first rallies on the 11th of September: “Everybody keeps saying that I am a great talent. But also for me training and match practice is very important to be able to play at my best.”
In the single event of the men Vladimir Samsonov from White Russia, Germany’s hungry Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Ex-World Champion Werner Schlager (Austria) seem to be the only ones who might be able to disturb Boll and Maze. In the team event the main question is who will be allowed to challenge the defending Champion Germany, who will be coached for the first time at an EC of Joerg Rosskopf, in the final. If you trust the seeding, Denmark the second from last year, Austria and Romania should have the best chances. Also full of hope are White Russia, the host, Czech, Sweden and as an insider tip the young Portuguese team, who might also be able to win a medal.
Who will win the team event of the women is much more difficult to work out. The defending Champions from the Netherlands have the quality for a third win in a row and have the virtuous and experienced left handed player, Li Jiao as well as two defending aces with Li Jie and Elena Timina and a very even balanced trio. But Holland is in danger since Germany beat the European Champions at the team WC in 2010 and went on to win the bronze medal. Since the beginning of this season the Butterfly on the shirts of the DTTB aces will provide them with additional wings. But also Romania’s young stars, lead by Butterfly partner Daniela Dodean look at the medals. Dangerous is also Poland with the world class defender Li Qian and Butterfly Natalia Partyrka. The fighting team of White Russia and the Hungarians with their routine as well as the highly motivated Spaniards, with Shen Yanfeng, who impressed recently at the Pro Tour, has good chances in this tournament.
In the singles of the women Chinese born players are the first ones in the queue for the title. With her victory at the Korean Open and a third place in China the Spaniard, Shen Yanfei, is one of the favourites as well as the German defender of the title, Wu Jiaduo, Europe Top 12 winner Li Jiao, Li Jie and the Austrian Liu Jia. Other hopeful players, who might brake into this circle of favourites, are the Butterflies Daniela Dodean, Kirsztina Toth (Hungary) and Viktoria Pavlovich (White Russia).
Photo: Will Timo Boll (Germany) and Michael Maze (Denmark) be successful again?