▁and ▁the ▁Olympic ▁champion ▁Kong ▁L ing hui ), ▁T imo ▁B oll ▁finished ▁the ▁year ▁as ▁the ▁highest ▁ranked ▁player ▁in ▁the ▁world . ▁During ▁the ▁European ▁Championship ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 3 , ▁Vladimir ▁Sam son ov ▁led ▁the ▁Bel arus ian ▁team ▁to ▁victory ▁in ▁the ▁final ▁against ▁the ▁German ▁team . ▁After ▁his ▁elim ination ▁during ▁the ▁second ▁round ▁of ▁the ▁singles ▁competition , ▁B oll ▁lost ▁his ▁number ▁one ▁position ▁in ▁the ▁world ▁rank ings . ▁ ▁In j ury ▁and ▁com eb ack ▁( 2 0 0 4 - 2 0 0 6 ) ▁Back ▁problems ▁trouble d ▁B oll ▁during ▁the ▁first ▁half ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁which ▁h inder ed ▁his ▁prepar ation ▁for ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁Summer ▁Olympics . ▁Here , ▁he ▁was ▁out class ed ▁in ▁the ▁quarter final ▁by ▁Jan - O ve ▁Wald ner . ▁After ▁a ▁period ▁marked ▁by ▁public ▁criticism , ▁T imo ▁B oll ▁won ▁tournament ▁vict ories ▁in ▁Poland , ▁Austria , ▁and ▁Germany . ▁He ▁also ▁reached ▁semif inals ▁of ▁the ▁Pro ▁Tour ▁in ▁P ek ing , ▁where ▁he ▁was ▁ed ged ▁out ▁ 3 – 4 ▁by ▁Ma ▁Lin . ▁Early ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁season , ▁B oll ' s ▁back ▁problems ▁struck ▁again ; ▁never theless , ▁he ▁won ▁the ▁silver ▁medal ▁in ▁doubles ▁at ▁the ▁World ▁Championship , ▁playing ▁with ▁Christian ▁Sü ß . ▁He ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Fair ▁Play ▁Award