Jan-Ove Waldner (top) defeats Chinese player Liu Guoliang in the men's singles semi-final during the Sydney Olympic Games on Sept 24, 2000. [Photo/Xinhua]

Waldner won a number of Swedish and European titles, but is best known for his Olympic gold at Barcelona in 1992 and his decades-long struggle against the best players from table tennis-obsessed China.

Revered for his speed, his swift serve and his incredible control, he earned the nickname "Evergreen Tree" in Mandarin as he faced generation after generation of elite Chinese players.

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