Photo: Bildbyrån, X/@World Table Tennis
When Anton Källberg beat Omar Assar in the world tour competition in Frankfurt, he did it by offering a really delicious art stroke – which has gone viral.
Now he tells himself about the somewhat humiliating special.
– I hope he doesn’t feel that I was nasty to him, I certainly don’t want that, he says to Sportbladet.
Anton Källberg27, is making a big hit in the ping pong world right now. He was part of the national team that won an Olympic silver in team play this summer and he also won European Championship silver Truls Möregårdh22, in doubles a few weeks ago. Now he continues to impress during the world tour competition in Frankfurt.
Källberg crushed the world number one
In the round of 16, he completely crushed the world number one Wang Chuqin in three straight sets, 11–8, 11–5, 11–6. It was an incredible surprise! Last summer, the Chinese was also beaten by Truls during the Olympics.
– I don’t know what to say. Of course, I’m a little overwhelmed by how I played today. I am so satisfied with my game, from the first ball to the end, says Källberg in the victory interview on WTT’s YouTube channel.
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Källberg has now reached the quarter-finals after the resounding victory against the world number one.
– It’s always something huge to face the world number one. And to be able to challenge him and to play so well, it’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was little. This is a big moment for me, he says.
Anton’s delicacy against Omar Assar
Already in the round before the victory against Wang Chuqin, Anton Källberg was noticed for a real delicacy that few people had seen before. In the match against the Egyptian Omar Assar gave the Swede a good opportunity to offer a really cheeky specialist who really challenged the opponent. He took advantage when Assar was far behind and got the ball into the Swede’s side of the table. Källberg then feinted that he was going to smash with his right, but quickly changed hands on the racket and hit the ball with his left, while he completed the movement with his right.
– We know each other well and have been club mates. I think he has seen that blow before as well and the match was basically already over. Both were quite relaxed. I hope he doesn’t feel like I was mean to him, I certainly don’t want that. I hope he thought it was fun, he says to Sportbladet.
Anton Kallberg’s creative drop shot is the Best Point of Day 1, presented by Shuijingfang 🔥#WTTFrankfurt #WTTChampions #TableTennis pic.twitter.com/AcTd7x7p1Z
— World Table Tennis (@WTTGlobal) November 3, 2024
Many have seen videos of the special stroke in recent days and been amazed at how he actually did it. How can you be so quick thinking?
– There were many who were surprised and didn’t see it coming and who thought it was a fun thing, says Källberg about the viral hit.
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He has been practicing it since he saw Truls Möregårdh being “exposed” to it a few years ago.
– The first time I saw it was many years ago when Truls met a Croat and the Croat made that blow. I thought it was so incredibly cool and so sickly unexpected. It’s something you’ve practiced from time to time and played around a bit. But it was the first time I felt like I had a place in a match. It happened so quickly and was absolutely nothing that was planned, he says.
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