The double Olympic silver medalist Truls Möregårdh is back on top ten in the latest world ranking and also back in the Pingis League.
That there is a Truls fever in Eslöv is something no one doubts.
It's not just here at home they love table tennis. I'm surprised at how much everyone is watching table tennis all over the country, says Möregårdh.
After returning from the success in the Olympic Games, he filled Stora Torg in Eslöv last summer.
"Fantastic"
In the home premiere of the Pingis League, he filled Blomsterbergshallen to the brim.
It's fantastic with this hype, it's chaos everywhere, says Möregårdh.
The same hall, also Eslöv's training hall, is on its way to becoming too small. The club could count in 90 new youngsters in beginner training in the autumn start.
It's clear that it would be good if we could get access to a larger hall and there are opportunities, says Truls Möregårdh.
The same hysteria as in China maybe it's not. Here, you're more used to meeting your home star. Enough hype anyway for little Eslöv.
Even for Truls Möregårdh's clubmates, it's a boost to spar with him daily.
Truls Möregårdh makes everyone raise their level and we get better from training with him. It's very inspiring to have him in the same club, says Alex Naumi.
Unbeaten for over three years
Möregårdh got proper resistance against Rekord's top man Hampus Söderlund. In the end, Söderlund couldn't stand up to Möregårdh. The audience got full value for their ticket when the home idol offered several delicacies. Eslöv AI won the derby with 4–1.
Truls Möregårdh is still unbeaten after more than three years in the Pingis League, 68–0 in singles quota after the series premiere against BTK Rekord and continuation will likely follow.
The series premiere was also a dress rehearsal for the European Championship, which starts next week.