Germany's Dimitrij OVTCHAROV has pulled out of the Perfect 2016 World Team Table Tennis Championships to be held from 28 February to 6 March 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia due to a back injury.
The world number five's withdrawal will severely hinder Germany's quest to win a first ever World Team Championships title. OVTCHAROV, who is the current European Champion stated: "During the next three weeks I am undergoing an intensive rehab programme, hoping that I'll again be fully resilient afterwards."
"It's one of the toughest moments for me in my sporting career. After winning three silver medals in a row and great experiences at the World Team Championships, this is the first World Championships that I have to cancel since I debuted in 2007. This is of course very sad for the team and for myself, but I do not want to jeopardize my participation in the Olympics. Health is an absolute priority. It is now still early enough to then be in good shape for Rio."
The 27-year-old will be replaced by Steffen MENGEL who was part of the German silver medal team in Tokyo 2 years ago.
The German team are not the only ones who have last minute changes coming into the biggest table tennis event on earth.
The current European Champions Austria have a familiar face in WTTC, with 2003 World Champion Werner SCHLAGER, who is replacing the sick Daniel HABESOHN. The 43-year-old SCHLAGER last played a World Championships in 2013, and his appearance in Kuala Lumpur will be his 17th.
The man who has played one more World Championships than SCHLAGER, Zoran PRIMORAC has been drafted into the Croatian team in replacement for Filip ZELJKO. Together with PRIMORAC's 18 World Championships appearances, the 46-year-old has also played in a record seven Olympic Games, so is no stranger to the world's biggest stage.
The 54th World Table Tennis Championships begins in just 5 day's time at the Malawati Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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