New Swedish medal in table tennis EC: "Damn strong"

The blue-yellow pair was really bad in the meeting with the second-seeded Germans. Qiu and Duda had a 2-0 lead in the set and then also a match point to decide in the fourth set.

But Karlsson and Källberg managed to take the match to a fifth and decisive set - where the drama continued.

The Swedes had their first two match points at 10-8, but this time it was the Germans who made sure to keep the game alive for a while longer. But on the third match ball, Karlsson and Källberg were able to decide for victory with the numbers 8–11, 8–11, 11–9, 14–12, 12–10.

- Incredibly good double, terribly high level. I'm proud of us, it's really fun to turn 0-2 against such a skilled pair who are betting a lot on doubles before the Olympics, says Kristian Karlsson to SVT.

Anton Källberg:

- Kristian kept saying at 0-2 that "we'll turn this around, we'll turn this around". We believed in it even when it looked difficult. A bit tentative start, they were better than us in the beginning and I didn't really follow the game. Then we play up and win a few more duels.

In Friday's semifinal, either the Belgian pair Adrien Rassenfosse/Martin Allegro or the Romanians Vladislav Ursu/Andrei Putuntica await.

Since no third-place matches are played in the EC, the quarter-final victory means at least bronze.

Before that, above all, Kristian Karlsson must work hard during a really busy EC Thursday in Ljubljana. At 12.40 he will play the semi-finals together with Stina Källberg in mixed doubles, and this evening also awaits a singles match in the second round.