The Rise of Table Tennis? | 2024 Paris Olympics
From 22 year-old Swedish player Truls Moregardh stunning the world by earning two silver medals and becoming the first non-Asian player since 2000 to reach the finals, where he defeated top-ranked Chinese player Wang Chuqin, to American Kanak Jha making history by reaching the field of 16 for the first time in U.S. Men's Table Tennis, to NBA star Anthony Edwards challenging American player Lily Zhang to a table tennis match, and the emotional retirements of legends like Timo Boll and the probable G.O.A.T. Ma Long—table tennis has officially launched.
Since table tennis debuted at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, China has dominated the sport, winning 32 out of 37 gold medals. Only 11 other countries, all in Asia or Europe, have managed to win any medals, thanks to their robust professional leagues and full-time training programs. In contrast, the U.S. only launched its professional league, Major League Table Tennis, last year (2023). American players like Lily Zhang must independently train and travel overseas for vital high-level competition experience. Zhang believes that the lack of a strong support system in the U.S. hinders their focus on improving skills and achieving Olympic success. This lack of professional culture also leads to a misconception among the public, who often underestimate the skill required at the highest levels of table tennis. Zhang humorously points out that, unlike in swimming or gymnastics, people mistakenly believe they could compete with top table tennis players due to the sport's relative obscurity in the U.S.
Anthony Edwards and U.S. Women's Table Tennis Team
At the Olympics, NBA star Steph Curry introduced his teammate Anthony Edwards to the U.S. women's table tennis team—Lily Zhang, Rachel Sung, and Amy Wang. Despite not being a table tennis professional, Edwards confidently claimed that he wouldn't be shut out in a match, saying, "Eleven to zero? I don't believe it. I'm scoring at least once." Despite Edwards' confidence in his abilities, Zhang challenged him to test it out. The playful encounter went viral (Watch HERE), shining a rare spotlight on the U.S. table tennis team, which has never won an Olympic medal. This attention has sparked greater interest in the sport, something the team hopes will lead to more support and resources. Zhang reached the round of 16 in Paris, marking her best Olympic result.
According to PingPod’s latest article on the cultural movement of table tennis, the game has seen a tenfold increase in popularity during these Olympics unlike any moment before reaching all time highs in google searches involving "ping pong" or "table tennis" alone, signaling a changing of the guard for table tennis as a sport and spreading mass appeal internationally in a brighter light. Like mentioned above, US players rarely have an opportunity to earn a living solely on table tennis without having to travel out of the country so that's where the hopes of Major League Table Tennis comes in.
Major League Table Tennis – The Beginning
The lack of infrastructure has long kept table tennis a second-class sport in the United States. Earning a living by solely playing table tennis has proved nearly impossible for American players but that’s where Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) aims to make a difference, a new U.S. professional league founded in 2023 by entrepreneur and table tennis enthusiast Flint Lane. After taking lessons from three-time Olympian David Zhuang, Lane became passionate about the sport and now owns two table tennis clubs.
MLTT features eight teams from cities across the U.S., competing in a co-ed team-based format that includes singles, doubles, and the unique Golden Game. The league’s first season was streamed on YouTube and even appeared on ESPN’s The Ocho. While it's still early days, MLTT shows promise in bringing table tennis into the mainstream, offering greater financial opportunities for players and team owners. Fingers crossed the 2024 Paris Olympics created a wave of table tennis interest large enough to carry on American table tennis dreams, like those of the US Olympic team.
The 2024 US Olympic Table Tennis Team
Competing in your first Olympics is monumental, but doing it alongside your best friend is even better. Team USA rookie Rachel Sung had this experience with her best friend and roommate, Amy Wang, helping secure a 9th place finish in the team event. On the men's side, seasoned Olympian Kanak Jha, made history by becoming the first US male to make the round of 16, despite his experience and skill, was knocked out by top-seed Fan Zhendong, who eventually won gold. Amy Wang, continuing her family's table tennis legacy, impressed in her debut but was eliminated in the round of 32. Veteran player Lily Zhang, competing in her fourth Olympics, achieved her best performance yet, reaching the round of 16 and finishing 9th overall, far surpassing her early goal of simply beating her big sister.
STIGA Player Truls Möregårdh: The Road to Sweden's Olympic Medal
The 2024 Paris Olympics have already etched their place in history with memorable performances across a variety of sports. Among these, Truls Möregårdh's remarkable journey to win the silver medal in men's table tennis stands out as a beacon of skill and perseverance aligning himself with Jan-Ove Waldner, the last Swedish table tennis player to win an Olympic Silver Medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and last non-asian player in the finals.
STIGA Cybershape - The "Hex" Shape Paddle
Truls paddle, known as the "hex shaped paddle" has gone viral, showcasing that ingenuity and creativity in the sport is alive and well. The STIGA Cybershape is a revolutionary blade engineered in collaboration with STIGA player and 2024 Olympic Silver Medalist Truls Möregårdh. This paddle boasts unique features, including a 5% larger size and resulting in an 11% increased hitting area. Its shape brings 6.5 cm (about 2.56 in) of the hitting area closer to the table, compared to just 2.5 cm (about 0.98 in) on traditional blades, providing players with an edge in short serves and returns. The innovative CYBERSHAPE® design is patent pending and design protected. Notably, the STIGA Cybershape is ITTF-approved and legal for tournament play, marking it as one of the most significant advancements in table tennis rackets in recent years.
Truls Möregårdh’s and Team Sweden's Silver Medal Performance
Truls Möregårdh, now at 22 years old, has solidified his reputation as one of the brightest stars in international table tennis with his silver medal performance at the 2024 Olympics Men's Singles and Sweden's Men's Team play. Truls and team showcased fierce resilience along with a mission of changing the trajectory of table tennis, instilling confidence and hope in other countries that have yet to be represented on the world's biggest stage.
Path to the Men's Singles Final
Möregårdh’s campaign in Paris began with a strong showing in the first round, where his tactical prowess and precision were evident. While Möregårdh was expected to have an early exit and not make it past the second round, he had other plans. His match against number one seed player, Wang Chuqin, demonstrated his growth from a promising talent to a world-class competitor. His playing style, marked by swift counter-attacks and strategic serves, allowed him to dispatch opponents with relative ease.
In the following rounds, Möregårdh seemed to be at ease as he played opponents Cheng-Jui Kao and Omar Assar in the round of 16 and quarter finals, ending both matches in a 4-1 score in his favor. His quarterfinal match was a dramatic encounter with #4 ranked player in the world, Brazilian Hugo Calderano, whom he bested 4-2 for a chance at Olympic Gold.
The final duel was a highly anticipated clash against the reigning world champion Fan Zhendong, an experienced player with a formidable track record. The pair previously met at the finals of World Table Tennis championship in 2021 with Zhendong stealing the title with a 4-0 victory. As the crowd watched anxiously, many wondered if this scenario would echo the final match in 2021, but three years of practice and meticulous conditioning can change everything. The match was fought valiantly by both Möregårdh and Zhendong, with both competitors displaying a high level of technical skill and strategic depth. Möregårdh fought gallantly, but ultimately fell short of the gold medal. Zhendong gained another olympic gold medal with a final score of 4-1. Möregårdh's silver medal was a significant achievement, reflecting his exceptional performance throughout the tournament and his status as one of the sport’s elite players.
Men's Team Journey
An improbable comeback, but one that was felt throughout the Olympic games - Sweden fought tooth and nail from down 0-2 to level up the semi-final match 2-2 as Sweden's Anton Kallberg struck the winning blow against Japan, 11-9 in the fifth, capturing a spot in the gold medal match. This guaranteed Sweden's first medal in the teams event, ever. They would face China's team including one of the greatest to ever lift a table tennis racket, Ma Long, alongside Fan Zhendong, and Wang Chuqin. China overcame Sweden 4-1 and once again stood atop the podium, yet Sweden was in no way defeated as these Olympic games proved the changing tides of table tennis internationally.
The Impact of 2024 Olympic Table Tennis
Truls Möregårdh’s silver medal at the 2024 Olympics is a monumental achievement, not only for him but for the entire landscape of Swedish table tennis. His outstanding performance has not only elevated his own status but has also shone a spotlight on the sport in Sweden, underscoring the intense level of competition on the Olympic stage.
On the other side of the Atlantic, America's Lily Zhang made history by reaching the round of 16, alongside her fellow Olympian Kanak Jha, who became the first U.S. men's player to achieve the same feat. Both athletes defied considerable odds to secure their places among the world’s elite. Reflecting on her journey, Zhang remarked, “This accomplishment speaks volumes about how far we've progressed as a team and as individual players. Although the outcome is bittersweet, it serves as both an inspiration and a source of motivation for us moving forward.”
It's time to see what all the hypes' about - choose your paddle wisely!
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