Other Events | 3 Dec 2017

Great achievement of Sweden`s rising star: Truls MOREGARD wins silver in Riva del Garda

China`s XUE Fei, no. 1 seed, won gold in the Boys Singles final at the 2017 ITTF World Junior Championships in Riva del Garda, Italy. MOREGARD upset XUE’s compatriot NIU Guankai, the no.3 seed, in the semi-final

 

Sweden`s rising star, 15-year-old Truls MOREGARD has accomplished a great achievement, winning silver medal in the Boys Singles event at the 2017 ITTF World Junior Championships in Riva del Garda, Italy. Starting from the qualifications three days ago, he managed to progress to the gold medal contest, held today, where he was beaten by no. 1 seed China`s XUE Fei in five games – 4:1 (11:9, 12:10, 11:4, 9:11, 11:8)

 

MOREGARD won seven consecutive matches in his thrilling campaign. Yesterday he beat the odds twice to reserve the semi-final berth of the Junior Boys Singles contest, but today (Dec 3rd) he made one step towards. He upset China’s NIU Guankai, the no.3 seed, in exciting seven games 4:3 (13:11, 10:12, 11:6, 4:11, 6:11, 11:5, 11:5)

 

“It’s unbelievable, but I’m so happy right now! We are both 15, we had a very good match, it’s very safe, we played very good, both of us didn’t miss, so we had some amazing rallies. I had better tactics than him in the end, I’m really happy right now. I have no fear in the match, he had all the pressure. I’m not seeded in this tournament, and I know I can play very good, so I just played my game and I know I could win. A resurgence in Sweden, you never know this, but I hope so. I play a little bit like WALDNER with my backhand. I have good mentality. I have lost many close matches in the year, but now I have learnt from these and now I win this,” stated Truls MOREGARD for ITTF website, after his semi-final win.

 

The runner-up of the Cadet Boys Singles at the 2016 European Youth Championships has been commenced from the qualifications here, winning both group phase matches in straight games. He faced huge task in the very beginning of the main draw, being extended to full distance by France`s Leo DE NORDEST. Sweden`s boy reversed the score from 1:3 to 4:3 in that clash, having one more encounter in seven sets in the Round 2, against American player Kanak JHA.

 

Quarter-final game sent a clear message to his opponents, that MOREGARD has a special mission in Riva del Garda, as he eliminated Japan`s Yuto KIZUKURI, the no.2 seed. He continued his winning streak against China`s XU Haidong in straight sets.

 

MOREGARD rewrites the record books last year, as he became a youngest ever Table Tennis Champions League participant. He was just 14-year-old when he debuted for Sweden`s club Eslovs Ai Bordtennis. Six weeks ago he recorded his very first TTCLM win against Chartres` Romain LORENTZ.

 

Two top seeds met in the all-Chinese gold medal contest of the Junior Girls Singles. No. 1 SIN Yungsha (China) beat no. 2 WANG Manyu (China) after full seven games, as the ultimate one was decided by a narrow margin (14:12).

 

Junior Boys Singles

 

Semi-finals

XUE Fei (China) – WANG Chuqin (China) 4:0 (11:9, 11:9, 11:3, 11:7)

Truls MOREGARDH (Sweden) – NIU Guankai (China) 4:3 (13:11, 10:12, 11:6, 4:11, 6:11, 11:5, 11:8)

 

Final

XUE Fei (China) – Truls MOREGARDH (Sweden) 4:1 (11:9, 12:10, 11:4, 9:11, 11:8)

 

 

Junior Girls Singles

 

Semi-finals

SIN Yungsha (China) – QIAN Tianyi (China) 4:3 (8:11, 11:8, 7:11, 2:11, 11:4, 11:3, 11:7)

WANG Manyu (China) – Miyu KATO (Japan) 4:1 (10:12, 11:5, 12:10, 11:7, 11:9)

 

Final

SIN Yungsha (China) – WANG Manyu (China) 4:3 (6:11, 11:8, 11:8, 12:14, 8:11, 11:6, 14:12)