(by Butterfly Japan)

May 25, 2003 is so far etched in history as a special day for the world of table tennis. On that day, Werner Schlager won the men’s world champion of the World Table Tennis Championships before  the men’s world champion became dominated by Chinese.

On this day 20 years ago, Werner Schlager was the man who sent the Bercy gymnasium in the 12th arrondissement of Paris into a frenzy. Born in Austria, a country that is not known for its table tennis prowess, Werner Schlager has developed an original style of play, and at the age of 30, has risen to the top of the world.