Is Timo Boll Still Able to Compete With Chinese Best Players ?

mrrybnik · May 4, 2013

I mean, he isn't that young anymore and the injuries are taking place more and more often. Has he actually managed to win something lately, cause i feel like he hasn't for a while now

. So my question is, Is he still able to compete with players like Zhang Jike, Ma Long or Xu Xin ?

Ben Larcombe · May 4, 2013

He beat Zhang Jike at the Olympics last summer but personally I feel like he must be quite a way off XX, ML, WH & ZJK at present.

Alborz · May 4, 2013

if ZJK still don't have good attitude ( and it is very possible ) i think Timo have 75% chance but he can't beat Ma Long or Xu Xin.

Matt Hetherington · May 5, 2013

Personally I think Timo is past his career peak, he has to maintain himself physically and that's hard with his ongoing back problems which also reduce the amount of time he can dedicate to intense training and competition. I can't see Timo making any huge results in the future now, I think he missed the boat really.

bricephan · May 5, 2013

He probably should think to give up international tours like Korean main team (Joo, Ryu, Oh..) and leave the seats for young guns

he will also play in Chinese league next season so that's quite awesome enough to maintain his career and build up his tactics for coaching German youngster later

Thomash · May 5, 2013

I would not underrate him.

bzing · May 6, 2013

A lot it's got to do with his technique imo. The chinese over 5-10 years have adopted a smash-looping technique and he can't cope with this especially the very top chinese players that are very skilled and deadly at it. Timo Boll mostly uses spinny, upward top spin technique ala Michael Maze, and that can injure quite easily. Just look at the last 2012 Men's World Cup in Liverpool, England Men's singles final: Timo Boll vs Ma Long. Totally destroyed 4:0.

Mikael Berglund · May 6, 2013

I also believe that Timo has peaked as an athlete. The Chinese players are getting better and better and he has stalled recently. Last WTTC he must have been in his late peak, and ZJK overpowered him. More recent result has also been sobering for him.

paellota · May 6, 2013

Timo Boll has no chance against the best chinese players. He doesn't hit the ball hard enough because his forehand move is too short, his serves are not that good, and he changes grip beetween forehand and backhand, which is a complete nonsense in table tennis (wastes a lot of time). Timo Boll was already inferior to WLQ and Ma Lin, and today's players are a lot stronger.

bricephan · May 6, 2013

paellota said:
Timo Boll has no chance against the best chinese players. He doesn't hit the ball hard enough because his forehand move is too short, his serves are not that good, and he changes grip beetween forehand and backhand, which is a complete nonsense in table tennis (wastes a lot of time). Timo Boll was already inferior to WLQ and Ma Lin, and today's players are a lot stronger.

I bet you would not be able to say that about WLQ if you watched he played in Chinese Super League and WTTC Trials. He still well maintains his strong points and skills and also seems to improve his backhand a lot more than the old days. In the past, WLQ is sort of player who use 70% forehand to attack as ordinary top Chinese back then. WLQ still can take the Chinese youngsters down as usual, except big four.

UpSideDownCarl · May 7, 2013

I think he can get an occasional match from the top guys but I don't think he can win a tournament if the top Chinese guys are all there. I think, for now, he sort of has to keep playing for Germany. Without him, the German team would drop in level considerably. But I do think his best days are behind him. It might be possible for him to have an amazing run in a tournament where you goes through everyone, but not very probable.

sumangupa · May 7, 2013

I think Timo would have an outside chance if he were playing at his peak physical fitness levels, but he's nowhere near that. Timo's spinny loop style requires him to be absolutely fit if he has to have any chance against the top 4 Chinese players.He's past his prime and The likes of Ma Long , ZJK are much more complete,compact and experienced players now. If Timo plays extremely well, he might win against the likes of Ya An , but it's hard to see him cause an upset against the Chinese Big Four unless they are having a really bad day.

sylvannus · May 7, 2013

Sadly I feel he has past his peak years. Same as JO Waldner. Where are the new players? Why only China alone has so so so many excellent younger players every a few years whereas less and less are coming up in Europe and USA? I don't think it is a good trend. Is it a problem with promotion and education? In China most schools and universities offer TT as a choice of PE lessons. Such public training seems successful, as many university student who are talented can even approach a sub-pro level after 1-2 years of PE lessons.

bzing · May 8, 2013

sylvannus said:
Sadly I feel he has past his peak years. Same as JO Waldner. Where are the new players? Why only China alone has so so so many excellent younger players every a few years whereas less and less are coming up in Europe and USA? I don't think it is a good trend. Is it a problem with promotion and education? In China most schools and universities offer TT as a choice of PE lessons. Such public training seems successful, as many university student who are talented can even approach a sub-pro level after 1-2 years of PE lessons.

A lot of this goes much deeper into the political system which is basically self-detrimenting our nations. So because of the current ongoing western civilization you will see this tearing apart of each european nation/american in every aspect, politics unfavouring those that are natives of a country while in China even though suffered civil war in the past and a lot of tragic gov regimes on people, now it seems to benefit them. Also the low birth of native people of Europe, feminization of men, slacking culture of laziness, constant marriage divorces due to greed that goes deeper into political system. That in the end will affect how the europeans perform in sport as well just like table tennis, before europeans were winning world titles more before, now because of flooded invasions which means worse living standard for the natives of Europe/America - it affects of how well they compete in sports because it's hard to worry about sport when your very own country is being flooded against your will.

kharlitos892 · May 8, 2013

i think ovtcharov is the next timo boll of germany....

fzkwrx · May 8, 2013

their is no chance for timo... too many top chinese player.

BladeDeferi · May 8, 2013

I think Timo Boll should man up and become like Jan Ove Waldner, kick ass and be old.

tabletennis4life · May 8, 2013

I would like to Timo Boll win chinese players but i think he isn't able to

RIPPER · May 9, 2013

Yeh I want too see him do well and maybe upset one of the chinese, but on the other hand I wouldn't be suprised if he has a bad loss himself.

MichaelMazeGreece · May 11, 2013

I think Boll won't even get to the quarterfinals

Is Timo Boll Still Able to Compete With Chinese Best Players ?

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