Four-time Olympic medallist Timo Boll bows out of ’emotional’ final table tennis

Timo Boll: “It was hard emotionally”

Speaking after the final match of his international career, he said, “It was hard. During the match, and immediately after the match, you’re feeling some disappointment, but to receive such feedback from the audience afterwards, it was really special and overwhelming. It was hard emotionally.”

Boll lost 3-1 in his final singles match for Germany and 3-0 in his last doubles match, playing alongside teammate Qiu Dang, at the start of the day.

“I stayed here for quite a long time,” Boll explained, “I think I’m still the oldest No.1 in the world. I’ve stayed maybe 25 years in the top five, top 10 area and this is my biggest achievement to be resilient against everything, against the changes we had in the past.

“But finally, you feel that your body is too slow and it’s getting harder and harder to keep the level so high. So I think it was the right moment to finish.”