VIERSEN - With the closing of registration, at the 10th of February, all 24 teams are known to participate in the World championship for national teams from 17 to 20 March in Viersen. The title holder is Turkey with Adnan Yüksel and Murat Naci Coklu, who now are registrated as the B-team of their country. Cenet Lütfi, the national champion, plays in the team of Turkey A with Tayfun Tasdemir.
The tournament will be played, as usual in recent years, in the Festhalle in Viersen. The seven-fold world champion couple, Torbjörn Blomdahl/Michael Nilsson is not playing in this combination. Nilsson got no agreement with the Swedish federation to compensate his days off on his work.
The Turkish team last year beat Spain with Daniel Sánchez and Ruben Legazpi in the final last year. The Netherlands and Korea were the losing semi-finalists.
These four teams seem to be again the favorites to the title. Dani Sánchez and Javier Palazón are playing for Spain now, the Netherlands with Dick Jaspers and Raimond Burgman and Korea with Kyung Roul Kim and chung Bok Lee.
The Belgians are playing with Eddy Merckx and Eddy Leppens, the French with Jérémy Bury and Jérôme Barbeillon, the Sweden with Torbjörn Blomdahl and Nalle Olsson.
Sixteen teams come from Europe, five from South America, three from Asia.
The group format is:
Group A: Sweden, Colombia, Mexico.
Group B: Netherlands, Czech Republic, Switzerland.
Group C: Germany, Egypt, Ecuador.
Group D: Spain, Austria, Montenegro.
Group E: Belgium, Portugal, Italy.
Group F: A Turkey, Vietnam, Peru.
Group G: Japan, Denmark, Bolivia.
Group H: Korea, France, Turkey B.