Austrian table tennis star Werner Schlager on Tuesday said that he had chosen not to take part in the soon coming 2011 World Table Tennis Championships (2011 WTTC) in Rotterdam for reasons of health.

Werner Schlager won the 2003 Singles World Championship held in Paris. He was voted Austrian Sportsman of the Year and selected in China as "The most popular foreign sportsman" .

Due to nerve inflammation in the neck area for weeks, the 38-year-old admitted that he was not ready for a showdown with the best in the world.

Missing the 2011 WTTC in Rotterdam, Schlager on Tuesday fixed the participation in the 2012 Olympic Games in London, which is the prime ambition of him.

Schlager ranks 22nd in the world at the moment.