Ping-pong icon Jörgen Persson, now the national team captain for the men's national team, today took the squad to the Olympics in Tokyo.
Persson presented three more team players in addition to the already ready World Cup silver medalist and world number eight Mattias Falck - Anton Källberg, Kristian Karlsson and Jon Persson (reserve) are going to Japan this summer.
And since the Swedish men qualified for the team tournament at the Olympics, Falck and another get to play in the men's singles.
And Persson decided that Källberg, 53rd in the world rankings, will represent the blue-yellow colors in both classes.
- Despite the fact that Anton is ranked as four of our players, there is no doubt that he has been one of our two best players this season, the national team captain Jörgen Persson motivates on the association's website.
That it "only" will be a team game in the Olympics for Kristian Karlsson, is something that the 29-year-old really does not appreciate.
- I can not stand behind the selection because I have beaten better players, been ranked higher longer and went further in the international competition in Qatar most recently.
I was relatively sure that there would be another selection.
It was a shock.
Anton has made enormous progress and is very good.
There is absolutely nothing against him.
He's a good friend, but I do not think it's a correct selection just because he's progressed.
More people have done that, says Kristian Karlsson to Ttela.
"Sorry for him"
Karlsson also shares his feelings on social media.
"Beaten more top 10 players. Beaten more top 20 players. Went further in the only tournament bubble since covid. Been among the two highest in the ranking for six years. That then it is" without a doubt "that you are 3rd to the Olympics is a stroke that will take a long time to heal ", he writes.
Karlsson, 29th in the world, and Källberg are teammates in the German big club Borussia Düsseldorf.
This season they have won the Champions League, and in June the duo will play the final in the Bundesliga.
Recently they have been in Sweden, when SVT Sport reaches Källberg he is on a train in Germany with Karlsson.
- I thought he would get it, I thought I would be selected for the team.
So this was more than I had hoped for, says Anton Källberg.
Kristian's disappointment, how do you see it?
- It's a pity about him, he's one of my closest friends.
Now it's me who takes that place, and I'm clearly very happy about it.
It is clear what Karlsson thinks.
- I have not seen what he has written, but I can understand everything.
The Olympic Games in Tokyo will be the Olympic debut for 23-year-old Källberg, at Rio 2016 he was a reserve team.
- I feel very happy and proud, must take the opportunity.
I will do everything I can to be in as good shape as possible, says Källberg.
The Tokyo Olympics will be decided between July 23 and August 8.