Photographer breaks Chinese table tennis star’s paddle to spark major Olympic upset

Lower than 24 hours after celebrating his gold medal win within the desk tennis blended doubles, China’s Wang Chuqin suffered a shock exit within the singles occasion to Sweden’s Truls Moregard, who performed a spectacular match to advance to the spherical of 16 on Wednesday.

For the 22-year-old Moregard it was his second-ever victory over a Chinese language participant in worldwide competitors.

An ecstatic Moregard celebrated by shouting to the gang, dancing on the ground, and drawing power from spectators chanting his identify.

“I’ve virtually by no means taken a set towards Wang, so it’s loopy to win right here. I believe how I performed within the tactical sport was actually intelligent, and I didn’t really feel that he had his greatest day in the beginning,” mentioned Moregard.

The Swede gained the primary two video games towards world primary Wang, who then fought again to even the rating. Within the vital fifth sport, Wang narrowed the hole from 4-8 to 8-8 however ultimately misplaced 11th of September.

Chinese language and European followers have been divided of their help on the packed stadium, a uncommon sight for Moregard.

“I really like the state of affairs. I’ve performed tournaments the place nobody is watching, and I’m actually nervous. So this ambiance is unbelievable, and I actually get pleasure from it,” mentioned Moregard.

Wang, who needed to change to a backup paddle after the one he has been utilizing in the course of the Olympics was broken by photographers, conceded that whereas it briefly affected his feelings, it was not the rationale for his loss.

“I believe the primary cause was my very own poor efficiency, which gave Moregard extra alternatives. I made quite a lot of errors, which progressively put me in a disadvantageous place,” mentioned Wang, who will proceed his Paris journey within the group occasion for China.

The burden of attaining China’s ambition for a gold medal sweep in desk tennis now falls on Fan Zhendong, the one participant left to defend China’s title within the males’s singles occasion. Fan superior to the following spherical after defeating Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting with a 4-1 victory.

Solar Yingsha, who gained her first Olympic gold medal a day earlier, additionally loved a simple victory over 61-year-old Ni Xialian, a former Chinese language world champion now representing Luxembourg.

In different notable performances, U.S. male participant Kanak Jha achieved a private greatest by advancing to the spherical of 16 after defeating Greece’s Panagiotis Gionis 4-2. Frenchwoman Yuan Jia Nan additionally made it to the spherical of 16, coming from behind to safe a 4-1 victory towards Canada’s Zhang Mo.