by Dora Jeler, ITTF High Performance and Development Operations Manager

He was far the youngest player at the camp but more than made up for his relative inexperience with persistence and determination; his remarkable work ethic and response to challenges at practice and training matches demonstrated his talent and earned him the respect of his older training partners.

Unfortunately, despite his hard work and determination, he was not selected for the Hopes Team to attend the 2013 World Cadet Challenge; preference was given to older players. Meanwhile, a rule change the next year meant that only Hopes players who had attended the same year’s Challenge tournaments were allowed to participate, again Truls Moregard missed out.

A disappointment but it was only temporary. At last year’s World Junior Championships he accounted for China’s Niu Guankai, the tournament’s no.3 seed, at the semi-final stage, only to stumble at the final hurdle. He was beaten by China’s Xue Fei, a player three years his senior. He underlined the fact that he is one of European most talented player and can challenge East Asian players.

Undoubtedly the goal this year is compete in the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games; currently he is working towards that goal at the Eslov Club in Sweden under the guidance of Peter Sartz.

Notably, Peter Sartz guided Denmark’s Michael Maze to bronze in partnership with Finn Tugwell at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and the following year to bronze in the Men’s Singles event at the Volkswagen 2005 World Championships.

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