China's Zhang confident of title defence at TT Worlds

Paris – Defending champion Zhang Jike of China said here he is confident of retaining the title at the World Table Tennis Championships to be held here May 13-20.

“I am feeling no pressure now and I am prepared. I can’t wait for my first match,” the 25-year-old, a Grand Slam winner of World Championships, World Cup and Olympics, said Saturday, reports Xinhua.

Zhang said he is familiar with Paris and likes the city very much.

“I won my first World Cup two years ago here so I think Paris is my lucky place. I also like the fans here. I was very surprised to find two years ago that they loved the sport very much,” Zhang said.

Zhang won the men’s singles title at the Rotterdam World Championships in 2011 but was mistakenly awarded the women’s trophy.

“I just hope that I can get the right trophy if I win,” he joked.