The German Women’s Team clinched the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. From that team Xiaona SHAN will be on duty again at Paris 2024 along with Petrissa SOLJA who is now a reserve player.
Before their departure to France the national team held a press conference in Düsseldorf.
Nina MITTELHAM
You had a long season and took a short break to catch your breath in June. How is your form?
“After my short vacation at the beginning of June I trained very well and returned from the holidays with fresh motivation. I entered the Olympic preparation with great momentum and am very much looking forward to the Olympics.”
Since the Summer Games in Tokyo where you were a reserve player a lot has changed. You are now consistently in the top 20 and a key team player. What are the German women’s chances in Paris?
“Since Tokyo where I was a reserve player I have improved significantly. I look forward to now being a key player in the team in Paris at my first Olympic start. I would have loved to share this role with Ying who I hope will recover quickly. We were all shocked by her latest injury. But we still have a good team. If we can play our best table tennis and avoid facing China and Japan in the quarter-finals there are certainly some nations we have a chance against. Let’s see what is possible in the new lineup. I am happy about every game we win as a team.”
What are your expectations for the singles and mixed doubles competitions?
“In singles and mixed doubles much is possible. Especially in mixed doubles there are always a lot of surprises. Unfortunately Dang and I do not have a great seeding. But we can beat almost any other duo and therefore no one really wants to play against us. I have not thought much about the singles performance yet. I want to show a good performance and prove that I have significantly improved. I hope this will be reflected in the results. Against some of the top players I have chances – and maybe the Olympics will finally be the time I win against them.”
Xiaona SHAN
You have had neck problems repeatedly in recent months causing unwanted breaks in training. How are you at the moment and were you able to train normally during the preparation phase?
“I canceled two tournaments in June and took a break and I am continuously receiving physiotherapy treatment to manage the issue well. Since early July I have been back at the table pain-free and can train fully again.”
Due to YING’S injury you are now also competing in singles at the Olympics for the first time. What are your expectations?
“For me the team competition has always been more important than singles. But I will of course try to play as well as possible and hope to advance a round maybe even two with a good draw. It is good that the singles come before the team competition so I can get some play time before the team event.”
The team is still strong without YING. What do you think is possible?
“I watched on TV when Ying suddenly got injured again in the singles. It still feels like a bad dream that you want to wake up from. She worked so hard to make a comeback after the cruciate ligament rupture and was in great form again as she showed in the semi-final. Then such a serious injury again! Of course her absence is a huge loss. But now I try to focus on my tasks and be there for the team. We are still strong even if the loss of YING reduces our chances of winning a medal. We can still go far with a good draw.”
Sabine WINTER
How is your current form and how is your confidence after the short training camp?
“After my injury at the end of last year I have trained well and was able to compete in all tournaments at the beginning of the year. The results were decent so I am confident for the Olympics. The preparation is going well. We are working hard and everyone is very focused. I think the camp has gone well for all of us.”
What is your goal for Paris?
“For me the team competition is the focus where I want to play a good tournament and help the team. If we perform well we will advance as far as possible. If I can play my best table tennis the results will come. In the singles I hope to show some good matches and prove that I belong on the international stage.”
Petrissa SOLJA (Reserve Player)
You have recently started training again and want to attack fully in the second half of the year. Nevertheless you have prepared well and would step in immediately if needed. How is your health and current form?
“I am feeling good and have trained well in the past few weeks. I am happy to be healthy again and able to play without pain. Although I am not yet at 100% I feel fit and ready for the Olympics.”
What role do you see yourself in the team and what are your expectations?
“I am part of the team and will support the others as much as possible. If I am needed I will step in and do my best to help us achieve our goals. I believe we have a strong team and if we can play our best table tennis we can go far.”
Women’s Team:
Nina MITTELHAM (ttc berlin eastside / World Ranking: 16 Olympic Appearances: -)
Shan XIAONA (ttc berlin eastside / World Ranking: 40 Olympic Appearances: 2016 2020)
Annett KAUFMANN (SV DJK Kolbermoor / World Ranking: 92 Olympic Appearances: -)
Reserve Player: Yuan WAN (TTC Weinheim / World Ranking: 86 Olympic Appearances: -)
Women’s Singles:
Nina MITTELHAM
Xiaona SHAN
Germany’s 9 Previous Medals in Table Tennis:
Gold: –
Silver: 4
Bronze: 5
1992 Barcelona:
Silver Men’s Doubles: Steffen FETZNER/Jörg ROSSKOPF
1996 Atlanta:
Bronze Men’s Singles: Jörg ROSSKOPF
2008 Beijing:
Silver Men’s Team: Timo BOLL Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Christian SÜSS
2012 London:
Bronze Men’s Singles: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV
Bronze Men’s Team: Timo BOLL Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Bastian STEGER
2016 Rio de Janeiro:
Silver Women’s Team: Ying HAN Xiaona SHAN Petrissa SOLJA
Bronze Men’s Team: Timo BOLL Dimitrij OVTCHAROV Bastian STEGER
2020 Tokyo:
Bronze Men’s Singles: Dimitrij OVTCHAROV
Silver Men’s Team: Timo BOLL Patrick FRANZISKA Dimitrij OVTCHAROV
