It is in principle impossible to beat a Chinese table tennis national team over five matches.
Sweden's men did everything they could, forced the Chinese to a deciding set in three straight matches, but ultimately had to give in in the Olympic Games final.
We press China as much as we can today. They are incredibly strong in the decisive situations and that's why they are the best. We do as well as we can and should be extremely proud, says Möregårdh.
And what can you demand when the opposition looks like this: Fan Zhendong, newly crowned Olympic champion in singles, Wang Chuqin, world number one, and Ma Long, generally considered the greatest table tennis player of all time.
Tight five-setters
A win in the opening doubles match – Anton Källberg/Kristian Karlsson against Ma Long/Wang Chuqin – might have gotten the Chinese out of their rhythm, especially with the knowledge that Sweden would then have had a in-form Truls Möregårdh in two of the remaining singles matches.
And it was close. Källberg/Karlsson played brilliantly and took the doubles to a deciding set, but it wasn't enough. China went ahead 10–4 and six match points, and decided on the fourth: 11–7 and a crucial 1–0 in matches.
Then three Swedish singles wins against the world's best ping-pong nation were required.
And first of all: that Truls Möregårdh would take revenge from the Olympic Games final in the singles tournament. But even this time it was Fan Zhendong who drew the longest straw – in a match of the highest level.
World number one decided
Just like in the singles final, Möregårdh delivered table tennis of absolute world class, but the planet's best player right now is named Fan Zhendong. The Chinese player with a backhand from outer space won with 3–2 in sets (10–12, 11–8, 11–9, 11–13, 11–5).
Doubles specialist Kristian Karlsson, ranked 61st in the world among singles players, was then forced to beat world number one Wang Chuqin to keep the gold dream alive.
On paper, Karlsson would be hopeless. In reality, it became a thriller. Wang took home the first set 11–9 and the next with clear 11–5. In the third, Karlsson saved a match point and then turned to set victory 12–10. He also won the fourth with 12–10 and tied to 2–2.
But then it was as if the energy ran out.
Wang Chuqin won the fifth with 11–2 and secured China's fifth Olympic gold out of five possible in the team event.
They felt pressured. You can see it in their performance, says national team captain Jörgen Persson.
For Swedish table tennis, the Olympic Games in Paris have still been a major success. Truls Möregårdh's silver in singles was Sweden's first ping-pong medal at an Olympic Games in 24 years. The team silver was the first in the event overall.
I never thought I would leave here with two silvers. It's extremely big, says Persson.
