Giant former boxing champion Nikolai Valuev is to take up table tennis for a tournament featuring politicians, he said Thursday.
The former WBA heavyweight champion, now a member of the lower house of the Russian parliament, will make his ping-pong debut at the International Parliamentary Games in Moscow next month, set to feature elected representatives from 10 countries.
“I play table tennis badly, but boxing’s not on the program,” Valuev said, blaming an old knee injury for ruling him out of football and badminton.
There could be some nerves for the 2 meter 16 centimeter-tall Valuev at the table, he admitted.
“I don’t like losing so for, like any person used to winning, it’ll be a nervous moment.”
Valuev said he had played table tennis during his boxing career to prepare for fights.
He is a member of the ruling United Russia party.
