Bundesliga

Borussia Dortmund has been promoted to the German Table Tennis League (TTBL). The favorite club of German idol Timo Boll is committed to its great name and wants to be "more than just soccer".

The self-confessed soccer fan Timo Boll has been rooting for Borussia Dortmund for decades - either in the stadium, at home in front of the TV or at some tournament somewhere in the world on some livestream. But from the summer onwards, the 43-year-old will have to block out all sympathy for the Black and Yellows, at least in table tennis: for the first time, BVB's smash artists have also made the leap into the Bundesliga (TTBL) - and for Boll, there can only be one Borussia from Düsseldorf.

For Dortmund, the duels with the big neighbor from the NRW metropolis are probably more important than for the Düsseldorf industry leaders. But the Westphalians did not make themselves any smaller than necessary after their two-league masterpiece last weekend. "Borussia Dortmund," said club president Reinhold Lunow on the club's homepage, "is more than just soccer."

The club from Dortmund, where Boll was the tour guide for China's world champion Fan Zhendong in the famous soccer temple just last fall, has long had what it takes to prove it. In the shadow of the footballers, the table tennis team already made it to the top flight in 2002 and again in 2010, but each time remained cut off from the financial drip of the listed footballers and left its place in the elite class unused.

This time, however, the BVB presidium did not want to and could not block itself again - also in view of the available sponsors. "After Borussia Dortmund had twice refrained from promotion for economic reasons, it would have been hard to convince them to do it a third time," explains table tennis boss Ulla Reitemeyer: "We are Borussia Dortmund and are committed to competitive sport."

Accordingly, their team will by no means be a points supplier in their Bundesliga debut year, unlike many newcomers before them. Even before the season finale, top 30 ace Anders Lind (Denmark), Champions League winner Cedric Nuytinck (Belgium) and Chinese player Li Yongyin, who was signed from relegated first division side FSV Mainz 05, had already been confirmed as additions to the rebuilt BVB team.

In addition to the financial aspects - according to serious estimates, Dortmund's budget, which has been approved by the executive committee after five attempts, should be in the mid-six-figure range - new structural dimensions also await the Westphalians. The hall floor, lighting system, internet connection - everything is much more professional in the TTBL than in the lower league.

But Reitemeyer and her team are facing up to all these challenges - with the familiar self-confident BVB attitude: "We are talking about our performance, and that has value for the club, for the TTBL and for the entire sport of table tennis," said the department head, adding: "The TTBL is waiting for Borussia Dortmund and its charisma."

It remains to be seen whether Timo Boll, despite his close ties to BVB, will be dazzled by this in Düsseldorf matches against Dortmund.

Source: SID
Featured image above: Joy about the championship in the 2nd Bundesliga (Photo: BV. Borussia 09 e.V. Dortmund)