Earvin Ngapeth, fighting to return to match fitness for the World Championship
Having fulfilled the dream of a home Olympic gold at the South Paris Arena last year, Ngapeth has had to face extended time off the court this year due to a knee injury.
It meant that the Saint-Raphaël native skipped the VNL campaign, which resulted in only the nation’s second instance of failing to progress past the quarter-finals in seven appearances. The injury has healed: now it is a question of whether his fitness can suffice when they begin their World Championship quest on 14 September.
“My knee is fine, I feel no pain”, Ngapeth explained, “but it’s true that I’ve gone three months without touching a volleyball. So it’s kind of a race against time in terms of match rhythm and physicality, but my knee is fine.
“The most important thing is that I’m here for an important competition for the team. I wanted to be here because for some of players, it’s their last competition [with Team France]. And we are a bit like a puzzle: if you take a piece out, it becomes weird. There is me, but it’s the same with Jenia [Grebennikov] or Benjamin [Toniutti], for instance.”
Outside hitter Ngapeth, who joined Turkish side Fenerbahçe SK this year, is one of the nation’s most experienced and decorated players alongside his fellow double Olympic champion duo. His presence in Manila is as vital for his teammates as it is for him, whether he is ready to start or not.
Nevertheless, the 34-year-old has looked sharp in training as he approaches the final stage of recovery before returning to full competition. He was determined to return in time for the World Championship, where he will play a vital role on or off the court.
“I was on a mission,” said Ngapeth of his recovery at CERS, an athlete rehabilitation centre in southern France. “I arrived there, put myself in a bubble and worked. When I came back, I think the guys were surprised because they didn’t see me for a long time. I was happy to see that, even after three months, I could be quickly integrated.”