by Simon Daish

Iveta Vacenovska had reached an agreement with the Czech national coach and national association to take a break from the sport, and subsequently didn’t travel to Düsseldorf for the Liebherr 2017 World Championships.

However, the 31-year-old Czech competitor is ready to make her comeback and is positive that her time away from the sport will benefit her game moving forwards.

“It has accomplished its purpose, and I think that the break has greatly benefited me… I think I am well prepared and I would like to continue with my new way of preparation.” Iveta Vacenovska.

Competing in the Women’s Championships Division, the Czech Republic has been drawn in Group B alongside the runners up from the 2015 event Romania, while the Netherlands and the host nation Luxembourg occupy the two remaining group spots.

Bronze medallists at the 2009 European Championships in the Women’s Championship Division and more recently at the 2015 European Games, the Czech women’s line-up has been a major contender on the continental scene in recent years and Vacenovska is hoping to see her team enjoy another positive campaign at next month’s competition.

“I would like to be a valid member of the team. Playing together with the girls, trying to get the best result… Only after the Championships will I be able to tell how much the break has benefited me, whether I chose the right way of preparation or not”, Iveta Vacenovska.

Understandably Vacenovska’s focus is currently centred on the upcoming European Team Championships in Luxembourg, but what are her plans following the conclusion of the event?

Vacenovska is keen to return to her best, and the Czech representative is confident that she still has plenty of time left competing at international level.

“Two factors will be important. First of all how I play. How I manage to compare with my opponents, but also with the new young players. Then, of course, I still have to have fun… I feel good about my health, but it is something else to feel good in training compared with a match situation when it comes to stress, tight defeats, travelling, and so on. If all this works, then there may be a few more seasons left for me”, Iveta Vacenovska.

Source: Czech Table Tennis Association