Timo Boll, the man in form and undoubtedly the major threat to
Chinese dominance in the male events at the H.I.S. World Championships,
has withdrawn from the prestigious global event due to start in
Yokohama on Tuesday 28th April 2008.
The lower back injury,
which earlier in the week,forced him to miss training and withdraw from
the Men’s Doubles event, has not eased.
There was no option open other than to pull out of the competition.
It is the second consecutive year that 28 year old Boll, the
reigning European champion, has been forced to cancel his appearance at
a World Championships.
Absent in Guangzhou
In
February 2008, he was compelled to withdraw from the Evergrande Real
Estate World Team Championships in Guangzhou, China for similar
reasons; the absence one year ago being influenced to some extent by
the forthcoming Olympic Games.
However, in 2009, there are no extraneous factors and discretion is the better part of valour.
Back Pain Became Worse
"It’s
again the old back pain", said Richard Prause, the German Men’s Team
National Coach. "We’ve tried but it has become even worse in the last
days."
"I cannot play with half of my force", said Timo Boll, analysing the situation. "That doesn’t make sense."
Look Forward
"Of
course he is sad because, he was generally in a good shape in the
recent times but we have to look forward", continued Richard Prause.
"Germany has already proved in Guangzhou last year that it has a strong
team without Timo Boll; Timo will still get his chances."
Organisers
at the H.I.S. World Championships left the Men’s Singles draw till
last, awaiting confirmation of the German stars non appearance before
matters started.
Wang Liqin Seeded Four
The
absence of Timo Boll means that China’s Wang Liqin, the defending Men’s
Singles champion and three times winner of the title, moves into the
fourth seeded spot vacated by Timo Boll.
Chinese national team compatriots, Wang Hao, Ma Lin and Ma Long occupy the respective top three seeded places.
Women’s Singles
Meanwhile,
in the Women’s Singles event, China also provides the top four seeded
places in the guise of Zhang Yining, Guo Yue, Li Xiaoxia and Guo Yan.
Entry
A
total of 104 national associations will be represented in Yokohama with
306 players competing in the Men’s Singles event, 209 in the Women’s
Singles competition whilst in the doubles events; the Men’s Doubles
sees 124 pairs, the Women’s Doubles 79 pairs and the Mixed Doubles 175
pairs.
Source: www.ittf.com