The German Table Tennis Association has allocated the 2010 Men’s
World Cup to Magdeburg, a city that has experience of staging major
events. The capital city of Saxony-Anhalt, it was the home for the 2007
World Team Cup.
Meanwhile, Germany’s number two and Olympic Team
silver medallist, Dimitrij Ovtcharov, will definitely leave Borussia
Düsseldorf at the end of the season. He is to join Belgian club Royal
Villette Charleroi.
Dimitrij Ovtcharov Three Years in Charleroi
Record champions Borussia Düsseldorf will have to replace Dimitrij Ovtcharov for the 2009-1010 season.
The
20 year old world no. 18 will play for Belgium’s leading club Royal
Villette Charleroi. Düsseldorf manager Andreas Preuss regrets the
departure: "Financially we went to the pain barrier, the offer from
Belgium was unbeatable."
Ovtcharov has signed a three year
contract with the five times European Champions League winners. "I only
have to play about half of the matches compared with Düsseldorf,"
Ovtcharov explained about his decision. "That will give me more space
to prepare my international tasks."
In the everyday life of
the ambitious German, few things will change. "I feel very comfortable
in Düsseldorf. I’ll keep living close to the table tennis centre and
hope to be able to continue practising here."
Men’s World Cup
For the first time the Men’s World Cup, initially organised in 1980, will be staged in Germany.
From
29th to 31st October 2010, the Bördelandhalle is the home of the 16 top
players from all continents. The presidium of the German Table Tennis
Union (DTTB) decided in favour of Magdeburg.
"Our past big
events in Magdeburg were always a success," Thomas Weikert, President
of the DTTB commented about the decision. "Regarding the number of
spectators as well as the organisation and the support from sponsors we
have every confidence."
Source: www.ittf.com
