Swedes threaten to spring surprise on China
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-29 09:05

Sweden's table tennis veterans have threatened to spring a surprise on overwhelming favourites China at the world table tennis championships starting here this weekend.

Sweden's Jan-Ove Waldner during the bronze medal match of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Sweden's table tennis veterans have threatened to spring a surprise on overwhelming favourites China at the world table tennis championships starting here this weekend. [AFP]

Sweden might have an ageing squad of past champions but men's team coach Peter Sterneborg warned not to write them off.

"The chances of us beating the Chinese is slim, although Waldner, the legend, is capable of beating anyone," Sterneborg said Thursday.

Sweden has brought a strong five-man team to Shanghai, boasting veterans Jan-Ove Waldner, Jorgen Persson and Peter Karlsson. Also in the squad are Jens Lundqvist and Par Gerell.

"We have a chance when facing the Chinese," said Sterneborg.

Sweden battled China for dominance over a decade from the late 1980s to the 1990s, and China's top paddlers have always considered Waldner one of the toughest opponents.

At the Athens Olympics, the 39-year-old Waldner toppled China's Ma Lin and German prodigy Timo Boll before being beaten by eventual champion Ryu Seung Min of South Korea in the semi-finals.

Despite his age, Waldner had proven he should never be taken lightly, said Chinese men's team head coach Liu Guoliang.

"Athletes need spiritual backbone to carry on. For a long time Europeans had been afraid of Chinese players but Waldner proved Chinese were not invincible," he said.

"Waldner ruined our Olympic plan. Chinese young players should learn Waldner's spirit."

The 2005 world championships get under way on Sunday.

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