Member Associations | 4 Apr 2021

Toni Borg remembered, a role model for future generations

It is with great sadness that the ETTU learned that Toni Borg, a stalwart member of the Swedish men's team some six decades ago, passed away on Saturday 27th March following a period of two weeks in hospital, suffering from Covid-19.

He died just two weeks short of what would have been his 84th birthday; he was born on Saturday 10th April 1937. 

Borg made his table tennis debut when he was only 17 years old, he played 29 international matches for Sweden, participating in the World Championships in 1957 in Stockholm and two years later in Dortmund.

Additionally, he competed in the 1960 European Championships in Zagreb, the second edition of tournament. Lining up alongside Hans Alser, Tony Larsson, Bjorne Mellström and Stellan Bengtsson, he won silver in the men's team event.

It is with the likes of his colleagues in the 1950s and early 1960s that Toni Borg very much set the standard, not just as a player but as a person; a fact appreciated by Petra Sörling, President of the Swedish Table Tennis Association.

"Swedish table tennis lost not only one of our big table tennis stars, Toni played in our national team from 1954, we also lost a close friend who never stopped playing table tennis. Always, he represented his club Arboga and Sweden as a true role model," Petra Sörling said.

Domestically, he secured men's doubles gold, partnering Tony Larsson at the 1958 and 1959 Swedish Closed Championships

Our thoughts with his wife Agneta, daughters Lena and Mona plus four grandchildren. Toni Borg will be sadly missed. Rest in peace.