Table tennis is a sport which, in Sweden, is perhaps most associated with the numerous successes Sweden experienced during the 20th century with legends such as Jorgen Persson, Stellan Bengtsson, Mikael Appelgren and above all Jan-Ove “JO” Waldner at the head.
The latter is considered by many to be one of the best table tennis players of all time. After numerous gold medals in the Olympics, WC and EC, he has been given the nickname “The Evergreen Tree” in the sport’s home country of China.
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Siri Benjegård is Sweden’s great table tennis talent
In recent years have names like Matthias Falck, Christian Karlsson and Truls Möregårdh lit up the sport in Sweden.
Now, however, a new star has been lit.
12-year-olds Siri Benjegård is regarded by many as one of Sweden’s top sporting talents and the elite investment has already taken off.
In an interview with News24 tells the talent about the journey from first discovering the sport by chance, to now competing against older teenagers and even adults.
– I started playing table tennis when I was seven years old after attending an open house in Kungsbacka where I got to try playing. I thought it was great fun and then I got a ping-pong table as a birthday present when I turned seven, she says.
– We didn’t get her from the open house, she thought it was so much fun, so it was just a matter of starting to play and practice. Then I contacted the club I knew in the municipality, says mother Lotta Benjegård in.
All about Siri Benjegård: Age, family and the table tennis talent
12-year-old Siri Benjegård is considered one of Sweden’s greatest table tennis talents. Photo: PrivatSiri Benjegård moved to Eslöv to bet on table tennis
Benjegård was born and raised in Kungsbacka, but a while ago the move moved to Eslöv in Scania, where she lives with her parents, who take turns living in Kungsbacka and Eslöv respectively.
– When we moved to Eslöv, it was quite a big step. It has been up and down. But now I feel it’s worth it and I’ve made a lot of friends and teammates and everyone is really nice, she says and adds:
– It is quite difficult not to see my little sister every day. See you on the weekends when I can and don’t play ping pong. It is also quite difficult not to live with both parents at the same time.
Siri Benjegård moved to Eslöv to invest in ping-pong. Photo: PrivatSiri Benjegård is compared to Möregårdh and JO Waldner
During her so far short career, she has managed to salvage several gold, silver and bronze in the SM at junior level as well as gold and bronze in the EC in her age group. And the training consists of facing older girls and boys, in order to be matched against tough opposition.
– I train with the highest group, where the youngest is 15 and some others are adults. I train with a mix of girls and boys, all of whom are at least four or five years older than me. It’s fun that the coaches see that I’m good and that I’m put to the test against others who are good.
After moving to southern Sweden, she has been compared to one of Sweden’s brightest table tennis stars right now. A person who has followed a similar path to Siri Benjegård, namely Truls Möregårdh. And it is no coincidence that Benjegård plays with a hexagonal rack, just like the role model Möregårdh.
– Truls Möregårdh is my idol and it’s cool that he moved down to Eslöv when he was exactly the same age as I am and that he made the same journey as me. It’s really cool, she says.
However, it is not only Möregårdh’s talent that is compared to. JO Waldner himself has also been mentioned in contexts around Benjegård.
– It feels great to be compared to JO Waldner and Truls and to be called the greatest talent. I don’t usually think that I have to win to prove something, but sometimes you can think about it if someone is a little worse. But usually I meet those who are better than me and then I just go in and drive without pressure, she explains.
Benjegård has been compared to both Waldner and Möregårdh. Photo: Jan Collsiöö & Johan Nilsson/TT”Training to be as good as possible”
When asked how it is that she has taken such big steps at such a young age, Siri Benjegård replies that a big reason is thanks to the support she received from the coaches who saw the talent and at the same time challenged her.
– I have only trained and tried to retain the joy of training and developing. I train to be as good as possible and the coaches have constantly pushed me to get better, which has helped me a lot. I’ve been pretty lucky to have had coaches who have helped me along the way.
But a big reason behind the success, according to Siri herself, also comes from home.
– I am very grateful to have the support at home from both mother and father. They cheer me on and stand up. We always try to make things up when we are together.
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