by Ian Marshall, ITTF Publications Manager

In the vital fifth and decisive contest against Hong Kong, he beat Ho Kwan Kit in three straight games (11-8,11-6, 11-7) to secure victory for Sweden, the no.9 seeds, in opposition to Hong Kong, the no.7 seeds.

The win came after earlier in the day he had lost to Wong Chun Ting (11-9, 12-10, 9-11, 11-6) in the opening contest of the fixture.

“I’d played Wong Chun Ting earlier this year in the ETTU Club Cup semi-final and won but today he played very well. He was very aggressive. I had my chances. In the first game I led 8-5 and lost, in the second 8-6 and lost.” Jon Persson

Wong Chun Ting was very much the shining light for Hong Kong. In the fourth match of the fixture he had also accounted for Kristian Karlsson (11-7, 5-11, 11-8, 11-7), the Swede having earlier played a vital role in the fixture. In the second match of the engagement, he beat Ho Kwan Kit (11-4, 8-11, 11-4, 9-11, 11-7) to level matters. It was a win that reduced the pressure valve for Mattias Karlsson who, in the third match of the engagement, defeated Lam Siu Hang (11-4, 7-11, 11-8, 11-8).

“Today I felt good, it was a hard match against Ho Kwan Kit; these are the matches in which you must want to play. You must really look forward to the challenge. Tactically I played well, importantly I was good in the serve and receive game; he was stressed.” Jon Persson

Success for Sweden and a second success, the previous day in their opening fixture they had beaten Romania by three matches to nil.