PARIS (TVBS News) — Taiwanese table tennis star Kao Cheng-jui (高承睿) faced a tough defeat against Sweden's Truls Möregårdh in the men's singles round of 16 early Thursday (Aug. 1) at the Olympics.
Kao won the first game 16-14 but then lost the next four with scores of 11-13, 8-11, 10-12, and 6-11. This match marked the second meeting in Kao and Möregårdh's careers, both resulting in losses for Kao. Reflecting on the match, Kao said that he wasn't calm enough, which affected his technique.
Kao also acknowledged Möregårdh's recent victory over top-seeded Chinese player Wang Chuqin (王楚欽), noting that it boosted Möregårdh's confidence. In a post-match interview, Kao shared that his biggest lesson from this experience is the importance of staying particularly focused in high-intensity competitions.
Participating in his first Olympics, the 19-year-old Kao advanced to the round of 16, a commendable achievement that has garnered national pride. Fans eagerly await his return to the Olympics, hoping he will go further and achieve his dream of winning a medal.