Men's national coach Jörg Roßkopf: "It's a real highlight"
Mr. Roßkopf, how great is the anticipation for the home European Championships in Munich?
"Definitely very big, it's a great event. Normally every sport has its own European Championships and now the event is included in the European Championships. It's special, a lot of people are here and of course it's also a real highlight 50 years after the 1972 Olympics."
Do you think that attention to fringe sports could increase by incorporating the nine European Championships into one big event?
"Definitely! After all, that's the goal of such an event, to bring many sports together, and I already believe, if you look at the targeted TV times, that the interest of TV is there. I also believe that many people will follow the event. The system is good with many athletes in one place, like a kind of mini-Olympics."
What are your goals and expectations going into the European Championships with your team?
"We definitely want to win some medals, it's always difficult to say how many it will be in the end, but we have five options (men's singles/women's singles; men's doubles/women's doubles; mixed, editor's note) and, if possible, we also want to win a medal in all competitions."
How relieved are you that you can fall back on Timo Boll after his rib fracture and Dimitrij Ovtcharov after his ankle operation?
"The two are definitely an important part of the team, but we also have enough players in the back row who would have done a good job replacing them here. With the experience of Timo and Dima here at the home European Championships, of course that also brings a team forward. However, everyone has to try to do their own thing, it's an individual event where everyone has to get their maximum out, and everyone has to prepare themselves as well."
What is the current status with Patrick Franziska? Is there any news about his situation yet? (Patrick Franziska and his wife are expecting the birth of their first child, editor's note).
"The two are in the hospital right now and we hope that the child will come soon so that he can make it in time for the start of the tournament. He would have to play the first time on August 17 and I hope that works out."
How do you like the training conditions and the organization around it at the new TUM Campus in the Olympic Park?
"It's definitely a cool thing. It's still a small construction site, but I think it's going to be really cool here. The location is super with the proximity to the Olympic Park and so you also have great training conditions in the halls. But also the gymnasts or track and field athletes will find top conditions here and I think you can study well here."
Interview: Noah Eberhardt
Benedikt Duda: "I want to come home with as many medals as possible"
Mr. Duda, how great is the anticipation for the home European Championships?
"It's very great, of course. It's been a long time since you've had a home tournament as a European Championship, so of course you're really looking forward to it. I've been looking forward to it for a long time and training for it, and now it can start tomorrow."
You became European Champion in 2021 with the team. What are your goals and expectations going into the European Championships?
"Of course I want to come home with as many medals as possible, I will play in three competitions (singles; doubles; mixed, editor's note) and try to give my best there and if it is enough for a medal, then all the better.
You last played in the mixed with Sabine Winter at the World Championships in 2017. How did the decision-making process go now or how did it come to this constellation again?
"That happened now rather by chance, because actually Patrick Franziska and Petrissa Solja should have played, but Petrissa had injured herself and so we were asked. There was then no hesitation at all and we definitely wanted to play here."
Which of the three competitions are you looking forward to the most?
"To all three, of course!"
What do you think of the training conditions and the setup you find here at the new TUM Campus in the Olympic Park?
"It's really super here. I was a bit surprised how huge everything is here, I didn't know that before either. It's really super conditions and you feel right at home, so you can't complain about that."
Interview: Noah Eberhardt
Franziska Schreiner: "The anticipation is very high"
The first training here at the TUM Campus in the Olympic Park is over. How satisfied are you with the organization and the training conditions here on site?
"I think it's great so far. It's my first time here at the campus, so I'm surprised how big it is here. That's why I have to find my way around first. But I can focus completely on training thanks to our coaches."
How great is the euphoria of taking part in such a major sporting event in Germany?
"The anticipation is very high, as it is the first European Individual Championships for me. I'm looking forward to playing doubles with Annett (Kaufmann, editor's note) right on the first day of the tournament."
So far, they have only played Annett Kaufmann in singles. Are they still training with each other for the doubles competition on Saturday?
"Yes, that is still planned in the training session before."
Interview: Paul Treutwein
Sabine Winter: "I want to come home with a medal"
Ms. Winter, how great is the anticipation now so close to the start of the tournament?
"I'm really looking forward to it, I've been working towards it long and hard. It's the highlight of this year and I'm looking forward to it starting tomorrow and I think I'm ready for the tournament."
You are competing in all disciplines (singles, team and mixed), what are your goals there?
"In all competitions you don't have a chance against anyone. Of course, you have to have a good day and sometimes you also need a little luck or a good draw. But I definitely want to come home with a medal at the end of the tournament. I've seen that they're pretty nice this year, so I want to have one of those."
How did you perceive the training conditions at the new TUM Campus in the Olympic Park?
"It's definitely a super training hall, maybe one of the best I've ever been in for a tournament. It's very nicely set up, the light is good. You can't complain about that."
Interview: Jan Cederic Mann
Annett Kaufmann: "I have nothing to lose"
Ms. Kaufmann, for you it is your first European Championship, how do you go into the tournament?
"I'm going into the European Championships very open and relaxed. I have nothing to lose in that sense. I'm here to gain experience and have fun."
So what are your goals for the tournament?
"My goal is to win a game everywhere. Especially now in the qualifying group, I think that's quite possible. Whereby I have to be careful, of course, because I have good opponents. But I will just give my best."
How do you perceive the European Championships as an event?
"It's like a mini-Olympics with all the sports, which is already something very special. I also feel important in the sense of being a part of Germany and being able to play for Germany now."
Interview: Jan Cederic Mann
Photos: TMG & Eberhardt/Mann/Treutwein