German table tennis stars are returning to competition mode faster than expected during the corona pandemic. Since the World and European Championships cannot yet take place, the national coach simply invented a tournament of his own.
Duesseldorf (dpa) - Timo Boll against the Swede Kristian Karlsson. This year table tennis fans would have liked to see this game at the team world championship in South Korea or at least at the individual European championships in Warsaw.
But because the corona pandemic doesn't work, or maybe not at all, there is now the "Düsseldorf Masters": a tournament series with top German and sometimes international players, all of whom live or train in Düsseldorf. This makes this master a competition format that can be easily reconciled with the logistical and hygienic requirements of that time.
"It's just time that I get some adrenaline again," said 39-year-old Boll of the ARD "sports show". This is exactly what these tournaments in the hall of German record champions Borussia Düsseldorf, which are planned until at least August, are all about: that after weeks of individual training in the Corona crisis, German table tennis stars are finally getting competition practice again.
In the first edition, Boll won the semi-final against Karlsson (3: 1), then also the final against Bundesliga professional Steffen Mengel from TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt (3: 1). The tenth world ranking had cured an injury at the beginning of the pandemic and had "no racket in hand" for several weeks.
The "Düsseldorf Masters" was devised by the German national coach Jörg Roßkopf. The former double world champion trains with the players of his Olympic and perspective squad most of the year in the German table tennis center in Düsseldorf. And it was clear to him shortly after the cancellation of all competitions in March: "Physically, the boys are fit. But in the long run, standing only in training is too exhausting, especially for the head."
So Roßkopf brought Borussia Düsseldorf on board, invited the foreign professionals of the five-time Champions League winner to increase the level and had the Masters approved by the local authorities. "With this tournament series, we are pioneers for table tennis all over the world," said Borussia manager Andreas Preuss. Because that's what it's all about: That this sport can present itself in Germany while nothing is running except football. All games of the "Düsseldorf Masters" are broadcast live on the Internet at "sportdeutschland.tv". It should take place with 16 participants each week for at least three months.
During the Corona pandemic, table tennis professionals have the same problems as other athletes: Nobody knows when their championships and official tournaments can continue. For the time being, the international associations have postponed the European Championships from September 15th to September 20th and the Team World Cup from September 27th to October 4th. However, Roßkopf personally does not believe that both can take place.
"It's hard to imagine such big events during this time," said the 51-year-old to the German Press Agency. "A lot of people would have to travel to one place from anywhere. The risk is far too great."
In contrast, the risk of infection can be minimized in Düsseldorf. Spectators are not admitted, no participant has a longer journey. There is no change of sides and no handshake between the players. The referee regularly throws a new and disinfected ball into play. Jörg Roßkopf has always been known for his meticulousness as a player and coach. "Hopefully my new role as tournament director will also work," he said.
Information about the Düsseldorf Masters