Sweden showed they still have a few surprises up their sleeve. In one of the standout moments of the Championships in London, the men’s team pulled off a stunning 3-2 victory over China in Group 1, shaking the long-standing dominance of the reigning giants in the team event.
At the ITTF World Team Championships Finals, where China have ruled for decades, this defeat sends a strong message: the gap is closing.
The tie opened with China taking control. WANG Chuqin proved too strong for Anton KALLBERG, sealing a confident 3-0 win and giving the favourites an early lead. But Sweden responded immediately.
Elias RANEFUR delivered one of the standout performances of the match, overturning LIN Shidong in a five-set battle to level the score at 1-1.
Elias RANEFUR: “Obviously, I’m really happy with the win and to contribute in a victory against China, which is huge. I’m also very satisfied with my performance. I felt like I played the way I wanted to, very aggressively, putting a lot of pressure on him. I do have a few shots that are a bit unusual, like my long serves and some of my receives, and I think they can catch opponents off guard. I wanted to come out strong against Lin Shidong, and I think I did that. He adjusted his game a bit, and in the third and fourth sets I couldn’t keep the same level of pressure. He was also leading in the fifth, but I’m really happy I managed to come back. I do think it’s possible for Sweden to fight for gold. We beat China, and they’re usually the best team, so we have every reason to stay optimistic. After this group stage, with wins against China and Korea Republic, it would be strange not to feel that way.”
Then came the turning point. Truls MOREGARD edged LIANG Jingkun in another dramatic five-set encounter, saving the decider 12-10 to put Sweden ahead 2-1.
China were not done yet. WANG Chuqin returned to the table and beat RANEFUR in straight games, tying the match at 2-2 and setting up a decisive fifth clash.
And that is where Sweden finished the job. Anton KALLBERG stepped up under pressure, defeating LIN Shidong 3-1 to seal a historic 3-2 victory.
This win is not just another group-stage result – it could reshape the entire competition.
China entered London as overwhelming favourites, having not beaten at the World Championships for 26 years, including a long streak of titles in the team event.
China – Sweden 2-3
- WANG Chuqin – Anton KALLBERG 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-6)
- LIN Shidong – Elias RANEFUR 2-3 (9-11, 6-11, 11-3, 11-6, 9-11)
- LIANG Jingkun – Truls MOREGARD 2-3 (7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-3, 10-12)
- WANG Chuqin – Elias RANEFUR 3-0 (12-10, 11-6, 11-4)
- LIN Shidong – Anton KALLBERG 1-3 (10-12, 12-10, 8-11, 8-11)
