Dutch team grows to 120 athletes for Baku 2015

4 May 2015 16:10 (UTC+04:00)
Dutch officials have said they are are pleased with the group of 120 athletes chosen thus far for Baku 2015.

The Netherlands Olympic body NOC*NSF increased its team for the Baku 2015 European Games to 120 athletes and the country's leaders say they are pleased with the group of sportsmen and -women put together.

Among the latest additions to the Dutch team for Baku 2015 are Table Tennis veterans Li Jie and Li Jiao as well as five artistic gymnasts.

Li Jie is currently ranked number 20 in the world and competed at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. The 42-year-old Li Jiao meanwhile is ranked 34th in the world and is a five-time world champion, with singles titles in 2007 and 2011 to her name. Britt Eerland was also chosen for the Dutch Table Tennis team in Azerbaijan.

The Artistic Gymnastics team features the women's trio of London 2012 Olympian Céline van Gerner as well as Lisa Top and Lieke Wevers. Karl Kosztka and Casimir Schmidt will make up two-thirds of the men's team with the third spot to be filled at a later date.

The Dutch team will compete in 24 disciplines in 17 sports. The Dutch Chef de Mission Mr. Jeroen Bijl said he was very pleased with the team.

"When we started a year and a half ago, there were things unclear about the program and the strength of the team. Now it appears that many Dutch athletes take it very seriously," Mr. Bijl said.

"We have had, as always when we’re sending out a team, high demands on participation. A large group has met the requirements," he added.

Here is a full list of the Netherlands athletes to compete at Baku 2015:

Archery: Sjef van den Berg, Mitch Dielemans, Rick van der Ven, Esther Deden, Annemarie der Kinderen, Shireen-Zoë de Vries

Basketball 3x3: Sharon Beld, Jinga Gosschalk, Karen Heinen, Karin Kuijt

Beach Volleyball: Michiel van Dorsten, Steven van de Velde, Sophie van Gestel, Jantine van der Vlist, Rimke Braakman, Jolien Sinnema

Boxing: Peter Müllenberg, Nouchka Fontijn

Canoe Sprint: Eef Haaze

Cycling BMX: Twan van Gendt, Jelle Gorkom, Merle van Benthem, Laura Smulders

Cycling Mountain Bike: Michiel van der Heijden

Cycling Road Race: Stef Clement, Niki Terpstra, Mathieu van der Poel, Pim Ligthart, Wouter Wippert, Nick van der Lijke, Chantal Blaak, Lucinda Brand, Anna van der Breggen, Ellen van Dijk, Annemiek van Vleuten, Marianne Vos

Diving: Pascal Faatz, Daphne Wils, Noor Lanen, Kimberley Lee

Fencing: Bas Verwijlen

Artistic Gymnastics: Karl Kosztka, Casimir Schmidt, Céline van Gerner, Lisa Top, Lieke Wevers

Judo: Jeroen Mooren, Dex Elmont, Guillaume Elmont, Noël van ’t End, Henk Grol, Roy Meyer, Birgit Ente, Sanne Verhagen, Anicka van Emden, Kim Polling, Guusje Steenhuis, Marhinde Verkerk, Tessie Savelkouls

Karate: Moreno Sheppard

Shooting: Peter Hellenbrand

Swimming: Marrit Steenbergen, Marieke Tienstra, Iris Tjonk, Tes Schouten, Laura van Engelen, Frederique Janssen, Jasmijn Boon, Josien Wijkhuijs, Pien Schravesande

Table Tennis: Li Jie, Li Jiao, Britt Eerland

Taekwondo: Jeroen Wanrooij, Joyce van Baaren, Reshmie Oogink

Trampoline: Bo Bet, Kirsten Boersma

Triathlon: Maaike Caelers, Rachel Klamer

Wrestling: Jessica Blaszka