Timo Boll signs up for T2 Asia-Pacific Table Tennis League
One of the world’s top players joins stellar line-up at inaugural league
Singapore, March 14, 2017 – The inaugural T2 Asia-Pacific Table Tennis League (T2APAC) scored a major coup with the announcement that former World No. 1 Timo Boll will compete at the upcoming star-studded league this summer.
Widely regarded as China’s favourite opponent in the sport, having beaten some of the nation’s top players during his career, the German international is highly regarded as one of the world’s elite players.
The world-renowned player, currently ranked 12th in the ITTF World Rankings, was in a class of his own when he clinched the men’s national singles title at the German Championship in Bamberg for a record 11th time, dispatching his compatriot Ruwen Filus in less than 30 minutes.
Said T2APAC Chairman, Frank Ji: “‘We are delighted to have Timo Boll aboard. His participation will add a touch of class to the event and will certainly boost the commercial value of the league, given his status as one of the legends of the game.”
“This also demonstrates the compelling and innovative model of T2APAC that attracts marquee players like Timo. In addition to the stellar line-up of world class players, the added behind-the-scenes look into the world of these top-class players will add another level of intrigue to fans. I believe T2APAC will take the sport to new heights and dazzle audiences around the world.”
Said Timo: “It gives me great pleasure to be a part of the inception of this fascinating new table tennis project, because I believe the innovative format of the T2APAC tournament can be major improvement to make table tennis more attractive to television audiences and fans. I’m especially interested to play in 24-minute format that will very likely produce exciting high-intensity matches, and I’m very confident that T2APAC has the potential to be a game changer to take table tennis to greater heights.”
Besides being the first German to hold the world’s no. 1 table tennis ranking in 2003, Timo has won the silver and bronze medals for the team event at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games respectively, two World Cup titles in 2002 and 2005, 19 ITTF Pro Tour titles, and the is a six-time Single’s European Champion.
Other top names competing in T2APAC’s inaugural season for a prize purse of over USD 1.5 million include Feng Tianwei (Singapore), Jun Mizutani (Japan), Chen Chien-an (Chinese Taipei), Paul Drinkhall (England), Elizabeta Samara (Romania), Yang Haeun and Jeon Jihee (South Korea), Aleksandr Shibaev (Russia), Vladimir Samsonov (Belarus), Chen I-Ching (Chinese Taipei), Georgina Pota (Hungary), Joo Saehyuk (South Korea), Matilda Ekholm (Sweden) and Suthasini Sawettabut (Thailand). More players will be announced in the coming weeks.
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