It is basically impossible to beat a Chinese national table tennis team over five matches.
Sweden’s men did everything they could, forcing the Chinese to a tiebreaker in three straight matches, but ultimately had to give up in the Olympic final.
We are pressuring China as much as we can today. They are insanely strong in the crucial situations and that is why they are the best. We are doing as well as we can and should be very proud, says Möregårdh.
And what can you ask for when the opposition looks like this: Fan Zhendong, newly crowned Olympic singles champion, Wang Chuqin, world number one, and Ma Long, widely regarded as the best table tennis player of all time.
Dense five-seater
A win in the opening doubles match – Anton Källberg/Kristian Karlsson against Ma Long/Wang Chuqin – might have got the Chinese out of the loop, especially knowing that Sweden then had an in-form Truls Möregårdh in two of the remaining singles matches.
And it was close. Källberg/Karlsson played brilliantly and took the double to the tiebreaker, but it wasn’t enough. China advanced to 10–4 and six match points, and decided in the fourth: 11–7 and important 1–0 in matches.
Then three Swedish singles wins were required against the world’s best table tennis nation.
And first of all: that Truls Möregårdh would take revenge from the Olympic final in the singles tournament. But this time too, it was Fan Zhendong who drew the longest straw – in a match of the highest average.
The world set decided
Sweden’s Truls Möregårdh is depressed after losing to China’s Fan Zhendong in Friday’s final in the Olympic table tennis team competition.
Sweden’s Truls Möregårdh is depressed after losing to China’s Fan Zhendong in Friday’s final in the Olympic table tennis team competition.
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT
Just like in the singles final, Möregårdh delivered absolutely world-class table tennis, but the best player on the planet right now is called Fan Zhendong. The Chinese with a backhand from outer space won 3–2 in the set (10–12, 11–8, 11–9, 11–13, 11–5).
Doubles specialist Kristian Karlsson, ranked 61st in the world among singles players, then had to beat world number one Wang Chuqin to keep the golden dream alive.
On paper, Karlsson would have no chance. In reality, it was a shudder. Wang took home the first set 11–9 and the next with a clear 11–5. In the third, Karlsson saved a match point and then turned to win the set 12–10. He also won the fourth with 12–10 and equalized at 2–2.
But then it was as if the energy ran out.
Wang Chuqin won the fifth 11–2 to secure China’s fifth Olympic gold out of a possible five in the team event.
They felt pressured. You can see that in the performance, says union captain Jörgen Persson.
For Swedish table tennis, the Olympics in Paris have nevertheless been a great success. Truls Möregårdh’s silver in singles was Sweden’s first table tennis medal at an Olympics in 24 years. The team silver was the first in the branch overall.
I never thought I would leave here with two silvers. It is extremely large, says Persson.