In a thrilling semifinal showdown at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Sweden triumphed over Japan with a narrow 3-2 victory in the men's team table tennis competition. This unexpected win paves the way for Sweden to compete against the winner of the China-France semifinal for the gold medal.
Sweden's journey to victory was nothing short of miraculous. The match began with Sweden facing a daunting 2-0 deficit. In the first doubles match, Anton Kallberg and Kristian Karlsson were defeated by Japan's Hiroto Shinozuka and Shunsuke Togami with scores of 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-7. The men’s singles silver medalist, Truls Moregard, also fell to Japan's Tomokazu Harimoto in a tightly contested match that ended 13-11, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10.
However, the tide turned swiftly as Karlsson and Moregard rallied back in the pivotal singles matches. Karlsson overcame Togami 7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5, reducing the deficit to one. Not to be outdone, Moregard delivered a stunning performance against Hiroto, securing the match with scores of 11-5, 11-6, 5-11, 12-10, leveling the overall team score at 2-2.
With the series tied, the final match was on the line, and Sweden delivered under pressure to clinch their spot in the finals. This remarkable comeback showcases Sweden's resilience and determination, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in the Olympic table tennis finals.
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Sweden shock Japan to reach men' team table tennis final at Paris 2024
cgtn.com
