9 9 5 , ▁where ▁he ▁won ▁three ▁gold ▁med als . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁he ▁was ▁a ▁runner   up ▁in ▁the ▁Junior ▁Boys ▁Singles ▁of ▁that ▁same ▁competition , ▁but ▁then ▁went ▁on ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁singles ▁title ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁as ▁well ▁the ▁doubles ▁title ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁He ▁finished ▁school ▁with ▁a ▁secondary ▁school ▁level ▁I ▁certificate . ▁ ▁Early ▁International ▁success ▁( 2 0 0 2 - 2 0 0 3 ) ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁T imo ▁B oll ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁German ▁player ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁Europe - Top - 1 2 - T ourn ament ▁be ating ▁Vladimir ▁Sam son ov ▁in ▁the ▁final . ▁B oll ▁also ▁became ▁the ▁ 1 0 th ▁best ▁German ▁player , ▁according ▁to ▁the ▁IT TF ▁Rank ings , ▁over t aking ▁J ör g ▁Ro ß k opf . ▁During ▁the ▁European ▁Table ▁Tennis ▁Championships ▁in ▁Zag reb , ▁B oll ▁won ▁both ▁the ▁singles ▁and ▁the ▁doubles ▁with ▁Z ol tan ▁Fe jer - K on ner th . ▁The ▁German ▁team ▁featuring ▁B oll ▁was ▁defeated ▁in ▁the ▁final ▁by ▁the ▁Swedish ▁team ▁with ▁a ▁score ▁of ▁ 2 – 3 . ▁ ▁With ▁his ▁victory ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁Table ▁Tennis ▁World ▁Cup ▁held ▁in ▁Jin an , ▁China ▁( where ▁he ▁beat ▁the ▁world ▁champion ▁Wang ▁Li q in