Those of us who have been around for a while have grown up with ping pong tables at school, at the leisure park, in basements and in friends’ garages. Everyone played table tennis somewhere, sometime, many trained and learned how to glue frames and change rubbers.
Table tennis and racket sports were the biggest thing we had. Sweden produced world stars. Stellan Bengtsson paved the way, then came Appelgren, JO Waldner and Jörgen Persson to name just a few.
Waldner is the most successful Swedish Olympian in table tennis. Gold in Barcelona 92 and silver in Sydney 2000. Jörgen Persson, today coach and national team captain, made seven Olympiads and reached the semi-finals as far as 2008 but lost the bronze medal match.
Succeeded in what tennis failed to do
Swedish table tennis has succeeded in what Swedish tennis has completely failed in, getting a new generation of world players. Because we shouldn’t think that Truls come out of nowhere. He was a child prodigy early on and made a big breakthrough when he reached the 2021 WC final in Houston. Then he fell to the Chinese who awaits in Sunday’s final, Fan Zhendong.
Möregårdh has been ranked top 10 in the world, beaten many top players over the years but has had a bit tougher last year and is ranked 26th.
Sweden has also won WC gold in doubles through Mattias Falck and Kristian Karlsson in Texas 3 years ago and Falck also played in the final in singles during WC 2019. But here in Paris he did not get a place in the squad.
So Swedish table tennis has delivered over the years and we have three players in the top 30 in the world ranking.
Has got the French public on their side
The Olympics have been a public celebration so far. Filled stands with deafening and really good atmosphere. In pretty much all arenas.
Everyone active seems to be having a blast, not least Truls who has also got the French audience on their side with his game and his expression in the paddock. It could become an important factor during the final.
Truls, play with black on the forehand, red on the backhand and with an octagonal racket, it doesn’t matter! I’m just happy that Sweden, 24 years ago, has a Swedish Olympic finalist in table tennis!
Sorry, apparently you should say table tennis.