J-O: "The biggest upset in history at an Olympic Games"

Victory against the Chinese world champion Wang Chuqin – in an Olympic tournament. Table tennis legend Jan-Ove Waldner holds back nothing when he puts Swede Truls Möregårdh's triumph in Paris into a larger perspective. This is the biggest upset in Olympic history, says Waldner.

» Updated:

» Published:

J-O: "The biggest upset in history at an Olympic Games"
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

Share this article

Waldner sat at home in his TV sofa in Stockholm and followed the drama in the French capital when Truls Möregårdh knocked out Chinese world champion Wang Chuqin in the second round of the OS tournament with a 4-2 set score.

It's the biggest upset in OS history. It has to be. Think about what he (Wang Chuqin) has won, says J-O Waldner to TT.

"A bigger shock candy"

Erik Lindh knocked out Chinese world champion Jialiang Jiang in the OS quarterfinals in 1988 and Waldner himself knocked out Chinese player Ma Lin – then ranked second in the world – in the OS eighthfinals in 2004.

But then "Ekan" (Erik Lindh) was around sixth, seventh in the world and I had beaten Chinese players before. This was a bigger shock candy. A huge performance, says Waldner, who won OS gold in 1992 and took OS silver in 2000.

In addition, Möregårdh has had a tough year and is now ranked 26th in the world.

That he now gets it right in this match. Then you believe in yourself.

Before yesterday's super upset, the 22-year-old from Eslöv had only taken a set off Wang Chuqin. The Chinese player has won all eight previous meetings.

Everyone thought Wang Chuqin would win easily, but Truls is there to take the fight. He started with that directly instead of giving away two sets at the beginning. It doesn't work against players like that.

A narrow advantage for Möregårdh

Already tonight, the eighthfinals against Kao Cheng-Jui, Taiwan, who played his second match on Monday, await.

It's maybe better that Truls gets to go straight. Now he avoids a lot of press conferences where they say: "now you'll take the medal". Or: "can you take the gold now?". It's just as well that he gets to go straight now, says Waldner.

Chances of winning in the eighthfinals?

It's 60-40 in favor of Truls. This match is tougher than what can be expected later. If he wins again, I think he'll make it to a semifinal, says Waldner.

Corrected: In an earlier version, it was incorrectly stated how many times Truls Möregårdh and Wang Chuqin had played against each other.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Mikael Backlund Signs Two-Year Contract Extension with Calgary Flames

Mikael Backlund Signs Two-Year Contract Extension with Calgary Flames

Amo HK Stuns Sävehof for First Victory in Five Years

Amo HK Stuns Sävehof for First Victory in Five Years

Bodø/Glimt Secures Draw in Champions League Debut Against Slavia Prague

Bodø/Glimt Secures Draw in Champions League Debut Against Slavia Prague

Isak Debuts for Liverpool in 3-2 Champions League Win Over Atlético

Isak Debuts for Liverpool in 3-2 Champions League Win Over Atlético

Västerås IK Names Six Captains for Upcoming Hockey Allsvenskan Season

Västerås IK Names Six Captains for Upcoming Hockey Allsvenskan Season

Taylor Townsend Apologizes for Chinese Food Joke

Taylor Townsend Apologizes for Chinese Food Joke

Finland Faces Historic Javelin Setback at World Championships

Finland Faces Historic Javelin Setback at World Championships

Finland Faces Historic Javelin Setback at World Championships

Finland Faces Historic Javelin Setback at World Championships

Pihlström Finishes Eleventh in Tokyo World Championship 1500m

Pihlström Finishes Eleventh in Tokyo World Championship 1500m

Lamine Yamal to Miss Barcelona's Champions League Opener vs Newcastle

Lamine Yamal to Miss Barcelona's Champions League Opener vs Newcastle

Edlund's Boil Disrupts 400m Hurdles at World Championship

Edlund's Boil Disrupts 400m Hurdles at World Championship

Thobias Montler Frustrated by Hurdle Races Disrupting Long Jump Performance

Thobias Montler Frustrated by Hurdle Races Disrupting Long Jump Performance

Government Allocates Half a Billion Kronor for Sports Facilities Expansion

Government Allocates Half a Billion Kronor for Sports Facilities Expansion

Henrik Larsson Sets Personal Best but Misses Direct Semifinal Spot

Henrik Larsson Sets Personal Best but Misses Direct Semifinal Spot

Felicia Granat's Cruciate Ligament Injury Sidelines Her for 2025-2026 Season

Felicia Granat's Cruciate Ligament Injury Sidelines Her for 2025-2026 Season

Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold Out for Weeks with Injury

Real Madrid's Trent Alexander-Arnold Out for Weeks with Injury

Björn Borg Opens Up About Cocaine Addiction in New Autobiography

Björn Borg Opens Up About Cocaine Addiction in New Autobiography

Tokyo World Championship: Humidity Challenges Asthmatic Runner

Tokyo World Championship: Humidity Challenges Asthmatic Runner

More Swedish Football Clubs Criticize Police Directives

More Swedish Football Clubs Criticize Police Directives

Footballer Thomas Partey Denies Rape Allegations in London Court

Footballer Thomas Partey Denies Rape Allegations in London Court