Lin Shidong beaten at WTT Europe Smash as Truls Moregard wins thriller

World No 1 Lin Shidong was beaten by Truls Moregard in the men’s final at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Europe Smash in Sweden on Sunday, after Sun Yingsha defeated Wang Manyu in the women’s final.

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An epic battle between the men’s pair at the Malmo Arena was settled in Moregard’s favour only after Lin had staged a recovery from 3-1 behind to level at 3-3 then lead 9-8 in the decider.

Sweden’s Moregard won the first game 11-8 before China’s 20-year-old Lin hit back by the same scoreline. Moregard raced ahead, taking the next two 12-10 and 11-8. The next went Lin’s way 11-4, and so did the next, just, 13-11.

Sweden’s Truls Moregard lifted the men’s single’s title in Malmo. Photo: AFP

Moregard claimed three points in a row to edge the seventh 11-9 and clinch a 4-3 triumph for the host nation.

Lin had already come through a semi-final in which his fortunes slumped against Simon Gauzy of France, trailing 3-1 before clawing back to prevail 4-3. Another comeback proved beyond him against Moregard.

The women’s competition had set up an all-China clash between the rankings’ top two players, as Sun, the world No 1, took on second-ranked Wang.

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Both had enjoyed comfortable semi-final victories, in each case an all-Chinese affair. Sun saw off Chen Yi 4-1, while Wang cruised past Shi Xunyao 4-0.

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