There is no sign of a lazy summer at the Werner Schlager Academy.

Although currently many of the WSA key players such as Werner Schlager, Daniel Habesohn, Martin Storf, Dominik Platter, Martin Heimberger (all in one of the Austrian courses in Faak), Chen Weixing, Stefan Fegerl and Li Qiangbing (China) or the Austrian youth aces Stefan Leitgeb, Simon Pfeffer, Nicole Galitschitsch, Melanie Luginger (a short pause after the European Youth Championships in Russia) are not stationed in Schwechat at this time, up to 100 players are active in the facility.

Many amateur players are participating, including a Lower Austrian Association Paralympic athletes program led by Olympic champion Andreas Vevera and a number of international tourists players, under the direction of WSA star coaches Richard Prause, Dirk Wagner, Provas Mondal, Dimitrij Levenko, Matthias Habesohn and Martin Doppler, all on hand to assist in the duties.

Top players from around the world are here, working hard on their games: Portugal (Joao Monteiro), Italy (Mihai Bobocica, Niagol Stoyanov), Latvia (Mattis Burgis), Brasil (Lucas Prandi), Slovakia (Samuel Novota), Romania (Daniela Dodean).  They are preparing for a long professional season, the first highlight being the ITTF Pro Tour event in Schwechat

(21 – 25 September), followed by the European Championships in Gdansk (8 – 16 October).  All are seeking a solid physical condition for the competitions.

WSA physiotherapist Barbara Halper is in constant demand for her hands-on work.

More and more, the Werner Schlager Academy is the hub of the table tennis world.  And, a look toward to the end of 2011 and into 2012 reveals the interest the world has in this training center in the heart of Europe, especially in view of the Olympic Games in London in July, 2012.  A number of top players are formulating plans for Schwechat, as they strive for the highest carat in London.

More information soon . . .