Watch Waldner talk about Möregårdh’s benefit from playing in China in the player above.
22-year-old Möregårdh has played in China in various rounds and brought with him toughness and experience that resulted in two Olympic silver medals in Paris.
– We are quite similar in playing style, play a lot with feeling, good game sense, can make different shots. “Ping pong today is pretty static, but Truls can hit different balls with his backhand where he blocks,” said Waldner, 59, who drew incredible crowds when he showed up in China.
150 visits to China for Waldner
In connection with an event at the furniture company, 120,000 people showed up, according to Waldner, who has China as a second home with around 150 visits to the country. He was at a training camp in the country for the first time as a 14-year-old.
– He picks up balloons, pulls incredible forehands and has special serves. That makes him so big in China, Waldner describes Möregårdh’s characteristics that differ from the typically “robotic” Chinese style of play.
– They are more like machines and it is important to get a hole in the machine right away the first time you meet them, then they get respect, says Waldner, who had to be protected by two bodyguards when the hysteria was at its greatest.