Table tennis great Timo Boll ends career on a sad note in Paris

Admin I Wednesday, August 07, 2024

 

PARIS – Timo Boll’s long international table tennis career came to an end when the former world number one player lost 3-0 against Sweden in the Olympic team event quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Boll, 43, is an eight-time European singles champion and has Olympic team event medals from the last four Games: silver in 2008 and 2021, plus bronze in 2012 and 2016.

He fought back from a shoulder injury last year to compete at one final Games since a Sydney 2000 debut, but a final medal did not happen.

Boll lost the doubles rubber with Dang Qiu, and the Germans were also beaten in both singles matches, with Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and German basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki in attendance.

“Right afterwards there is disappointment that you are eliminated. On the other hand it occurred to me that it is now over with the national team,” Boll said.

Boll had announced his international retirement in May.

In Germany, he will fulfil his club contract at Borussia Dusseldorf until 2025.