The Netherlands national team has set off for Asia in order to make
the final preparations for the H.I.S. 2009 World Table Tennis
Championships. Linda Creemers, Li Jiao, Li Jie and Carla Nouwen are
fully recovered from their injuries.
After Trinko Keen’s retirement from international events, the Dutch team constists of four women but no male players.
Coached by Chen Zhibin
On Monday the Orange team travelled together with the new women’s head coach Chen Zhibin to Asia for the final preparations.
The
first sessions at the national training centre with the new coach from
Germany and former Chinese national team player pleased the Dutch
ladies. "I am really glad with Chen", Carla Nouwen said. "He is both on
technical and tactical areas very good."
Achim Sialino,
Technical Director of the Dutch Table Tennis Association (NTTB) says
about the expetations for the Dutch women: "Both Li’s are capable to
reach the last sixteen in the singles event. After that stage it will
be very difficult to succeed. Li Jiao reached the quarter-finals in
2005 but for sure that is not easy to repeat."
Sialino
continued: Creemers and Nouwen improved a lot the last couple of months
with good results for example in the JOOLA European Nations League."
Fully Recovered from Injuries
Much
more important is the fact that the Dutch women are fully recovered
from their respective injuries. Linda Creemers (elbow), Li Jiao
(fatigue), Li Jie (knee) and Carla Nouwen (foot) can play at full
strenght.
On its internet TV portal www.tafeltennis.tv,
the NTTB will broadcast the World Championships with reactions from
players and items about the tournament on a daily basis. In 2011 the
World Table Tennis Championships will be hosted by the Dutch city of
Rotterdam.
Source: www.ittf.com
