Directly after the nerve-wracking final victory against the Chinese world number one Lin Shidong in Malmö Arena in the World Tour tournament Europe Smash, Truls Möregårdh did not quite know how the celebration would go.
How much is open on a Sunday evening in the hometown of Malmö?
It became perfect. It became a restaurant here near me in the beginning with near and dear ones. We sat there and ate for a while and they were nice to have open a little longer for us, says the 23-year-old to TT and continues:
Then we actually had some luck that there was a small party open in Copenhagen. So I and some friends actually went over to the sound and had a good evening there. It became quite late.
The mobile went hot
The discharge in the pingis heat finally made itself known.
Towards the end, the body began to realize what had happened during the day. It was a tired Truls in the end, but it felt like I was worth it. So it was very fun.
The congratulations have been pouring in.
I don't know if it has ever beeped so much in the mobile, he says and laughs.
Monday became a day to land in everything that had happened, says the fresh world five.
I took a day to recover. It was a long and incredible week for both the head and the body. I answered all who wrote congratulations to me and could watch the match again.
I still haven't had time to go through any messages on Instagram. It was there that it almost came the most. I am very grateful for those who write there too.
All seven previous Grand Smash tournaments on the men's side (2022-2025) have been won by a Chinese. The eighth was won by Truls Möregårdh.
It's just totally crazy to win such a tournament as the first non-Chinese. It really shows how difficult it is to win a Grand Smash in table tennis.
"Too good to be true"
He has watched the match afterwards. In social media, the 24-ball long duel that led to the historic Grand Smash victory being secured in the final is being waved.
To beat the world number one in a final in that way with the match ball in front of all who watched on home ground. It's too good to be true.
Even Chinese fans have gotten in touch. He has "a few hundred thousand followers" on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
There were many who thought it was cool and fun that it could become a match and that I could stand up against China, says Truls Möregårdh.
Born: February 16, 2002.
Occupation: Table tennis player.
Lives: Malmö.
Club: Eslövs AI.
World ranking: Fifth.
Main merits: Victory in the World Tour tournament Europe Smash 2025, Olympic Games silver in singles and Olympic Games silver in team 2024, World Championship silver in singles 2021, World Championship bronze in singles 2025, World Championship bronze in team 2018, European Championship gold in team 2023, European Championship bronze in singles and European Championship silver in doubles 2024, European Championship bronze in team 2021 and 2019.
Other: Voted by the Swedish people to winner of Radiosportens Jerringpris 2024.
