Anton Källberg defeats Tomokazu Harimoto after a 0:2 set deficit and leads Sweden to the Olympic final.
An incredible battle unfolded in the first semifinal of the Olympic table tennis team events. Sweden faced Japan and seemed to be on the brink of elimination. But after a nail-biting 3:2 victory, Sweden is in the Olympic final for the first time and has secured its first medal in the team event. On Saturday, the Swedes can even turn their guaranteed silver medal into gold when they face either host nation France or top favorite China.
The Dramatic Turnaround in the Semifinal
Anton Källberg could barely turn to his teammates before sinking to his knees. Kristian Karlsson fell to the ground along with the barrier, while Truls Moregardh and Jörgen Persson rushed to Källberg in jubilation. With an 11:9 win in the decisive fifth set, the 26-year-old had just defeated Tomokazu Harimoto, leading Sweden to the Olympic final for the first time. Things didn't look good for the Scandinavian team for a long time.
The frenetic spectators in South Paris Arena 4 initially struggled to get into the match. The semifinal between Japan and Sweden began one-sided, with Japan quickly taking a 2:0 lead. Both the doubles pair Hiroto Shinozuka/Shunsuke Togami against Kristian Karlsson/Anton Källberg and Tomokazu Harimoto against Truls Moregardh won in four sets each. Karlsson was also down 0:1 in his singles match against Togami, and Sweden seemed to be on their way home.
Karlsson Initiates the Comeback - Källberg Completes It
But the Swedes found their way back just in time. First, Karlsson turned his singles match against Togami around and then fired up the crowd. Immediately afterward, Moregardh lived up to his favorite status against Shinozuka. After a secure 2:0 set lead, the runner-up in the singles competition faltered but ultimately won 12:10 in the fourth set.
In the decisive singles match, Harimoto and Källberg took the stage one last time. Källberg initially struggled, losing the first two sets 5:11 each. But the Swede fought back and, after more than three and a half hours of intense play, led his team nervously to the Olympic final. This is Sweden's first-ever Olympic medal in the team event. Previously, their best finish was the quarterfinals.
Match Overview
Men's Team - Semifinal
Japan - Sweden 2:3
Hiroto Shinozuka/Shunsuke Togami - Anton Källberg/Kristian Karlsson 3:1 (-8,9,4,7)
Tomokazu Harimoto - Truls Moregardh 3:1 (11,-9,5,10)
Shunsuke Togami - Kristian Karlsson 1:3 (7,-9,-9,-5)
Hiroto Shinozuka - Truls Moregardh 1:3 (-5,-6,5,-10)
Tomokazu Harimoto - Anton Källberg 2:3 (5,5,-7,-7,-9)
This historic victory against Japan marks a significant moment for Sweden in table tennis. The team has proven they can compete against the strongest opponents in the world. Now, all eyes are on the upcoming final, where the Swedes will fight for the gold medal. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games!