Practice over; it was stretch, stretch and more stretching for
Denmark’s Michael maze after his training session in the Yokohama Arena
on Monday 27th April 2009, the day prior to the start of the H.I.S.
World Championships.
The reason for the exercises being to take care of the body and especially the lower back.
It
was that part of the body which had caused him problems earlier in the
year in February in what has turned out to be a complete reversal of
fortunes.
In the third round of the Men’s Singles event at the Salwa Cup
Kuwait Open. Maze was forced to withdraw from the competition at the
end of the fifth game against Timo Boll.
Ironic
Ironically
it is a similar injury to that encountered by Maze in Kuwait that has
forced Boll to withdraw from the H.I.S. World Championships.
The German is suffering but for the Dane it is totally the opposite scenario. He is fully fit.
Totally Unexpected
"I
didn’t play for just over a week following Kuwait", explained Michael
Maze. "After that I was fine and I feel no ill effects."
The injury in Kuwait was completely unexpected.
No Explanation
"It
wasn’t an old injury and in the first two rounds I had felt fine",
continued Maze. "It’s something I can’t explain and neither can anyone
else; I’ve had medical help but no doctor has been able to give a
reason for what happened in Kuwait."
However, as he prepared in
Yokohama, he was clearly taking no chances and if there is to be a
threat to the might of Asia in the H.I.S. World Championships, then
Maze is one of the candidates to supply the upset.
Shanghai 2005
He
proved he is more than capable by clinching a bronze medal in 2005 in
Shanghai at the Volkswagen 48th World Championships; a tournament in
which he was injury free but soon after started to suffer.
"Yes,
I started to have pains in my lower back, especially on the right hand
side in 2005", explained Maze. "Before that no real problems; now my
back is not that strong."
Played Freely
In
Yokohama, as he practised there appeared no signs of pain or problems
with Maze attributing the injury incurred in Kuwait to a punishing
schedule.
"I think I’ve only really had two weeks rest in the
last 14 months", said the Danish star. "I’ve had no real rest and that
causes physical problems, it’s the same for Timo."
Ready for the Challenge
The pressures of modern day sport, as for Michael Maze all looks well.
Certainly
the travails of Kuwait are resigned to history and one of the world’s
most talented table tennis players is fit and well; ready for the
challenge, ready to repeat the exploits of 2005.
Source: www.ittf.com
