by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) — Dimitrij Ovtcharov epitomizes resilience and the artwork of staging comebacks, propelled by an unwavering will and keenness for desk tennis.
At 35, Ovtcharov has navigated the peaks and troughs of his profession with relentless dedication, at all times clawing his approach again into rivalry.
He stands because the German titan of desk tennis, notably when dealing with the world-renowned Chinese virtuoso, Ma Long.
Their storied rivalry, highlighted by a gripping semifinal conflict in Tokyo the place Ma Long eked out an 11-9 win within the decider earlier than clinching the gold medal, stays etched within the annals of the game.
Ovtcharov has challenged Ma Long 19 occasions, every try ending in defeat. Yet, his resolve stays unshaken.
“Believe it or not, I am looking forward to our 20th encounter, and despite past outcomes, I see a window of opportunity,” he declared.
Come this Friday, Ovtcharov will as soon as once more face the adversary he has but to overcome, within the quarterfinals of the 2023 WTT Champions Frankfurt.
Defeat by the hands of Ma Long is not any shame. “I can’t imagine any player boasts a winning record against him,” Ovtcharov mused, his respect for Ma Long obvious.
While not anticipating to outdo his efficiency in Tokyo, Ovtcharov’s confidence in his skills stays agency.
Currently driving the wave of a comeback after enduring a prolonged restoration from two ankle surgical procedures, he feels reinvigorated and wanting to compete.
“For sure, I’ve progressed from where I was a few months ago. I’m anticipating this match with great enthusiasm,” he acknowledged.
In the dazzling highlight sometimes reserved for pop icons, the WTT Champions collection has ignited a fervor amongst German desk tennis aficionados.
“Playing at home after such an extended interval, witnessing the crowds’ enthusiasm – it’s electrifying,” he confessed, buoyed by the burgeoning recognition of desk tennis in Germany.
“For me, it’s revitalizing to return and participate in an event of this caliber,” he added.
Ovtcharov shunned framing the upcoming match as a redemption for his slim loss in Tokyo, as a substitute saying, “Each match writes its own narrative, irrespective of what we know about our adversary. And his capabilities appear boundless.”
To him, each sport is a recent begin, a brand new probability to shift the narrative, particularly on residence turf.
The sting of defeat in Tokyo lingers, with Ovtcharov expressing, “That loss was the most painful, as it may have been one of the finest matches in the history of table tennis.”
Yet, he views the Frankfurt event as a mere stepping stone on his journey to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the place he stays optimistic about securing one of many two German slots within the males’s singles competitors.
“It’s not about merely participating; my ambition is to compete with distinction at the Olympics,” he asserted.