Current European champions open the 2016 PERFECT World Team TT Championships against Thailand (February 28th, 03:00 CET),
Both German teams landed in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, 19:40 local time, and last two days have practiced in the Malawati Arena, prior the 2016 PERFECT World Team TT Championships (February 28th – March 6th). Women’s national team, current European champion, is posted on the 7th place in the seeding list, sharing Group B with Japan (no. 2 on the world list), Korea DPR (no. 9), Czech Republic (no. 15), Thailand (no. 18) and Brazil (no. 26). It’s obvious that Petrissa SOLJA & Company will face tough challenge, in their attempt to reach second quarterfinals in a row, after ZEN-NOH 2014 World Team Championships in Tokyo.
The 2015 ITTF World Cup bronze medalist, Petrissa SOLJA (world’s no. 17) is expected to take a leading role in absence of HAN Ying and SHAN Xiaona, accompanied with Irene IVANCAN (no. 44), Sabine WINTER (no. 58), Kristin SILBEREISEN (no. 69) and Nina MITTELHAM (no. 112). SILBEREISEN is unique member of the bronze winning team from 2010 Moscow WCH. After that Championship, German side played twice in the quarterfinals (two years ago they were beaten by Hong Kong 3:0).
Sport director Richard PRAUSE stated after the last workouts of the women’s national team, that the first aim is to enter the knockout stage. It means to finish among the top three teams in Group B at least.