After participating in Beijing, his fifth consecutive Olympic Games,
Frenchman Patrick Chila ended his international career. Born in 1969,
like German legend Jörg Rosskopf, Chila can reflect on a successful
career which includes three European Championship titles (two in Team,
one in the Doubles).
Contrary to Rosskopf, however, Chila’s
place during the Liebherr European Championships in St Petersburg will
not be on the coach’s bench; he will be co-commentator for the French
Eurosport.
French Men’s Team Rejuvenated
Patrick
Chila is not the only prominent absentee in the French team. Damien
Eloi also takes time out. He played for his country in Guangzhou and at
the Olympic Games in Beijing. The long time proclaimed change of
generations seems to have been finally realised.
Led by
Christophe Legout (35), the French team mainly consists of younger
players. Emmanuel Lebesson (20), Abdel-Kader Salifou (18) and Adrien
Mattenet (20) will be the skeleton of a rejuvenated team. Coach for the
first time is Stéphane Hucliez, who won the European Juniors title with
the three mentioned players in Prague 2005.
Strong Opponents and a Clash with Chila’s Nightmare
The
way for the next generation is open and after the good results achieved
by Le Breton, Drop, Gauzy and company at this year’s European Youth
Championships, coach Hucliez will soon be in the comfortable position
of a stimulating intense competition for places.
However, St
Petersburg might well bew a very hard test. In the group with Germany
and Denmark, the young generation will face the two past European Team
champions. Only Hungary seems to be within reach.
Patrick
Chila will follow that match with eagle eyes. He lost in Beijing
against Hungary’s number one Janos Jakab after leading with three games
to nil. It was a bitter pill, but the new generation can strike back;
perhaps already in St Petersburg.
Source: www.ittf.com
