BREMEN, Germany, April 24 (Xinhua) -- An injury to Christophe Bertin has forced a last minute change of line-up for the French men's team at the 2006 World Table Tennis Championships starting in Bremen, Germany Monday.
Bertin, 21, hurt his playing arm in practice on Sunday, according to news release from the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) website.
Team manager Patrick Birocheau has sent 36-year-old Damien Eloifor replacement.
France has sent only four male players to the 2006 World Team Table Tennis Championships, including vastly experienced Patrick Chila.
Patrick Chila and Damien Eloi were both members of the French team who finished in third place in 1993 in the men's team event in Tianjin while two years later in Manchester, both were on duty when France lost in finals to China.
In Bremen, the French men's team was in championships Group B along with Belgium, Japan, South Korea, Croatia and Brazil.
The Chinese men, who are expected to retain their titles achieved in Qatar two years ago, are in Group A with Romania, Sweden, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands. Enditem
