by Max Ansbro, Swedish Table Tennis Association
Three intense days of competition was the order of proceedings for the 424 participants in age groups ranging from 40 to 85 years of age.
Many close matches in singles, doubles and mixed doubles but it was not as you say blood, sweat and tears it was more like blood, sweat and laughter. Determined but smiling faces, enjoying competition, relishing in the atmosphere, scanned the arena as friendships were strengthened and memories created.
Sweden dominated both with the number of participants and also with the results. The host country won 21 gold in 30 classes and if you consider the total medal count they were even more dominant.
Star of the show was the host nation’s Nosrat Safai. He won three golds in the 70 years and over age group. A retired mathematics teacher he now teaches children to play table tennis and with great success. Two of his children, now close to 30 years old are former top level players.
He lives and breathes table tennis and now teaches the next generation. Earlier this year he was awarded the prize as “Youth Teacher of the Year” in his home municipality; a great role model and an example for table tennis for all, for life.
2018 Northern European Veteran Championships: List of Entrants and Full Results
Roll of Honour
Men’s Singles 40 – 44 Years
1. Mikael Wikström (Sweden) 2. Daniel Nilsson (Sweden) 3. Henrik Drugge (Sweden) 3. Patrick Zachrisson (Sweden)
Men’s Singles 45 – 49 Years
1. Fredrik Åborg (Sweden) 2. Tobias Johannesson (Sweden) 3. Harri Hanski (Sweden) 3. Clas-Henric Wallgren (Sweden)
Men’s Singles 50 – 54 Years
1. Ola Bernersson (Sweden) 2. Thomas Beckman (Sweden) 3. Allan Kottise (Estonia) 3. Jorma Lahtinen (Finland)
Men’s Singles 55 – 59 Years
1. Bo Lindmark (Sweden) 2. Markuu Kivistö (Sweden) 3. Åke Huss (Sweden) 3. Göte Svensson (Sweden)
Men’s Singles 60 – 64 Years
1. Pål Guttormsen (Norway) 2. Per Gustafsson (Sweden) 3. Göran Aldvik (Sweden) 3. Stefan Jansson (Sweden)
Men’s Singles 65 – 69 Years
1. Roger Sundqvist (Sweden) 2. Göran Skogsberg (Sweden) 3. Povilas Baguzis (Latvia) 3. Jouko Manni (Finland)
Men’s Singles 70 – 74 Years
1. Nosrat Safai (Sweden) 2. Lars Thomas Samulesson (Sweden) 3. Matti Lappilainen (Finland) 3. Arvi Garpenhed (Sweden)
Men’s Singles 75 – 79 Years
1. Hans Fredén (Sweden) 2. Åke Berg (Sweden) 3. Konstantinas Kuprys (Lithuania) 3. Torsten Lager (Sweden)
Men’s Singles 80 – 85 Years
1. Kai Merimaa (Finland) 2. Ingvar Johnsson (Sweden) 3. Per Magnusson (Sweden) 3. Toni Borg (Sweden)
Men’s Singles Over 85 Years
1. Uno Hedin (Sweden) 2. Ola Lagerqvist (Sweden) 3. Bengt Bergström (Sweden)
Women’s Singles 40 – 49 Years
1. Linda Almgren (Sweden) 2. Merje Aas (Estonia) 3. Annie Blomqvist (Sweden) 3. Anna-Carin Ahlquist (Sweden)
Women’s Singles 50 –54 Years
1. Lena Johnsson (Sweden) 2. Yvonne Blomquist (Sweden) 3. Anette Spångberg, Sverige
Women’s Singles 55 – 59 Years
1. Lena Johnsson (Sweden) 2. Yvonne Blomquist (Sweden) 3. Anette Spångberg (Sweden)
Women’s Singles 55 – 60 Years
1. Yue Xia Wang-Fridén (Sweden) 2. Eva Lindh (Sweden) 3. Christine Portnoff (Sweden) 3. Mona Fridell (Sweden)
Women’s Singles 60 – 64 Years
1. Kai Thornbech (Estonia) 2. Evi Ilves-Schalk (Estonia) 3. Eva Doverby (Norway) 3. Elle Öun (Estonia)
Women’s Singles 65 – 70 Years
1. Eva Hanni (Estonia) 2. Wivika Andermo (Sweden) 3. Klara Väiko (Estonia) 3. Kerstin Drotz-Skeppstedt (Estonia)
Women’s Singles 70 – 74 Years
1. Kari Solveig Gjengedal (Norway) 2. Anita Andersson (Sweden) 3. Lotta Borg (Sweden) 3. Helga Vasemägi (Estonia)
Women’s Singles 75 Years & Over
1. Else Ronnow (Denmark) 2. Monika Maul (Sweden) 3. Ingegerd Freinert (Sweden)
Men’s Doubles 40 – 49 Years
1. Henrik Drugge / Alexander Drugge (Sweden) 2. Daniel Nilsson / Johan Ericsson (Sweden) 3. Clas-Henric Wallgren / Mikael Wikström (Sweden) 3. Pierre Lönn / Patrick Zachrisson (Sweden)
Men’s Doubles 50 – 59 Years
1. Per Delby / Eric Zetterström (Sweden) 2. Ulf Karlsson / Markku Kivistö (Sweden) 3. Åke Huss / Roger Johansson (Sweden) 3. Hans Hellgren / Anders Johansson (Sweden)
Men’s Doubles 60 – 69 Years
1. Pål Guttormsen / Per Heie (Norway) 2. Povilas Baguzis / Juris Silins (Latvia) 3. Hans Kroon / Ulf Ununger (Sweden) 3. Göran Skogsberg / Arvi Garpenhed (Sweden)
Men’s Doubles 70 – 79 Years
1. Nosrat Safai / Lars Thomas Samulesson (Sweden) 2. Karl Lehtonen / Seppo Reiman (Finland)
3. Matti Lappalainen / Håkan Nyberg (Finland) 3. Antti Karveskari / Jukka Leino (Finland)
Men’s Doubles 80 Years & Over
1. Toni Borg / Per Magnusson (Sweden) 2. Undo Hedin / Lasse Svedberg (Sweden) 3. Ingvar Söderström / Kai Merimaa (Finland) 3. Ingvar Johnsson / Georg Karlsson (Sweden)
Women’s Doubles 40 – 49 Years
1. Helena Johansson / Linda Almgren (Sweden) 2. Merje Aas / Pille Veesaar (Estonia) 3. Yvonne Blomqvist / Annie Blomqvist (Sweden) 3, Anna-Carin Ahlquist / Jette Vieg Sverige (Denmark)
Women’s Doubles 50 – 59 Years
1. Yue Xia Wang-Fridén / Lindh Eva (Sweden) 2. Lena Johnsson / Ann Hedenstjierna (Sweden) 3. Christine Portnoff / Gunillla Widström (Sweden)
Women’s Doubles 60 – 69 Years
1. Kai Thornbech / Elle Öun (Estonia) 2. Birgitta Olsson / Kerstin Drotz-Skeppstedt (Sweden) 3. Eva Doverby / Unni Halvorsson (Norway) 3. Wivicka Andermo / Lisbeth Oscarsson (Sweden)
Women’s Doubles 70 – 79 Years
1. Lotta Borg / Monika Maul (Sweden) 2. Anita Andersson / Lena Linde (Sweden) 3. Ulla Dovblad / Kari Sol Gjengedal (Sweden / Norway) 3. Aili Kuldkepp / Helga Vesemägi (Estonia)
Mixed Doubles 40 – 49 Years
1. Harri Hanski / Annie Holmqvist (Sweden) 2. Mikael Wikström / Linda Almgren (Sweden) 3. Pierre Lönn / Yvonne Blomqvist (Sweden) 3. Jonas Sandqvist / Anna-Carin Ahlquist (Sweden)
Mixed Doubles 50 – 59 Years
1. Håkan Fridén / Yue Xia Wang-Fridén (Sweden) 2. Per Svensson / Jette Vieg (Sweden / Denmark) 3. Anders Johansson / Gunilla Widström (Sweden) 3. Åke Huss / Ann Hedenstjierna (Sweden)
Mixed Doubles 60 – 69 Years
1. Jouko Manni / Elle Öun / (Finland / Estonia) 2. Pål Guttormsen / Unni Halvorsen (Norway) 3. Roger Sundqvist / Kai Thornbech (Sweden / Estonia) 3. Ernat Masik / Evi Ilves-Schalk (Estonia)
Mixed Doubles 70 Years & Over
1. Lotta Borg / Nosrat Safai (Sweden) 2. Ulla Dovblad / Torsten Lager (Sweden) 3. Johannes Kant / Helga Vasemägi (Estonia) 3. Anita Andersson / Åke Karlsson (Sweden)