by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- With German table tennis icon Timo Boll stepping away from the international stage at the age of 44, 18-year-old Annett Kaufmann is emerging as a new face of the sport in Germany.
"I understand the desire of people to follow role models, but I don't want to be compared with Timo. I see my potential, and I believe I can get to something, but I do it my way," said the daughter of Kazakhstan-rooted parents ahead of the 2025 ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals in Doha.
Despite her accomplishments - including the 2024 national titles in singles and doubles, and the 2021 and 2023 European team titles - the 1.83-meter-tall athlete noted, "I am only at the starting point."
From her perspective, comparisons with Boll and his unparalleled career are misplaced.
Kaufmann won the hearts of German fans with her courageous performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the German team narrowly missed out on a bronze medal. Yet her world ranking outside the top 100 underscores her position as one of the sport's rising rookies.
Just a year ago, she graduated from high school, and for the past twelve months, she has been living as a full-time professional athlete.
"Until then, table tennis has rather been a beloved hobby," she said.
Due to her low ranking, the Wolfsburg-born left-hander is set to face Ng Wing Lam of Hong Kong, China. If successful, she will likely meet China's Chen Xingtong, the world No. 3.
Kaufmann drew international attention when she captured the under-19 world title in Sweden - becoming the first non-Asian player to do so after 18 titles for China and two for Japan.
Her appearance at the 2025 World Championships was in doubt due to an ankle injury, but she was ultimately cleared to compete in singles, doubles, and team events.
Kaufmann understands the public expectations and her role as a role model, recalling the flood of emails she received following the Olympics.
"People wrote to me that I am an inspiring source for their kids, but I don't feel like an influencer," the vivid and quick-witted athlete said.
Passionately committed to her sport, Kaufmann's breakout Olympic performance has propelled her into the spotlight. "But I can tell you, we athletes are ordinary humans; we don't come from Mars."
In Paris, she was nominated as a substitute for the team event but seized the chance to showcase her abilities.
"I have great confidence in my potential," she said, acknowledging the attention surrounding her first major appearance since Boll's retirement.
She vowed to remain authentic and true to herself: "as I am what I am." She added that she's not embarrassed by her expressive personality, "as I have a lot of funny things in my mind."
As Boll winds down his club career this summer, Kaufmann's charismatic presence may help carry the torch for promoting table tennis in Germany.
"I open all letters I get and read them, as I am flattered to read people's encouraging comments," she said. ■
