Sweden Not Finished, Says National Head Coach

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, December 23, 2001

Sweden Not Finished, Says National Head Coach

After Sweden did not qualify forthe final at the Men's world team table tennis championships in Osaka, Japan last May, the very first time in two decades, some said that the splendid era of the Swedes came to an end.

However, the head coach of the Swedish national team had a different view.

"We are not finished. We are still one of the world powerhouses. One loss did not mean anything," Peter Sterneborg said at the Euro-Asia Men's Team Champions Challenge here on Saturday.

Outside of China, Sweden is the only country that continually produces men capable of scaling the greatest heights of world table tennis by winning more than 20 world and European team titles.

The same question of whether China or Sweden win the world title haunts before every big international event and the answer never turns to the third choice except at this year's world championships, when Belgium surprisingly knocked off Sweden 3-1 inthe semi-finals.

Many doubt that the famous Sweden trio, Jan-Ove Waldner, Peter Karlsson and Jorgen Persson, who are over 30s, would retire after the humiliation. However, they continued to show up at the international events.

"It is true they are old, but they are experienced. They are among the best players in our country, in Europe and even in the world. If possible, they will play at the 2004 Olympic Games," Sterneborg said.

Though China won the inaugural Euro-Asia Men's Table Tennis Team Challenge, by beating Sweden 4-1, the 36-year-old Waldner snatched the only victory for his country as he edged China's Olympic champion Kong Linghui 8-11, 11-8, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4.

"My secret to keep long-lasting form is to enjoy the pleasure of the sports rather than the pressure from the matches," said theall-time great Swede.

Sterneborg said that at 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Swedish young stars will "definitely" take on the torch.

According the head coach, the Swedish national team consists ofeight players, including veterans Waldner and Karlsson, three-timenational champion Fredik Hakansson and five young potentials. Persson plays in Japan now.

Magnus Molin and Jens Lundqvist, both 21, are playing in Germany and expected to replace the veterans soon while the other three teenages are training for more than five hours everyday under the guidance of Sterneborg.

"Our young players will become stronger after a few years. We are not finished. We will prove that we still have a big chance of winning medals at any international events," he said.

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