China's Guo Yuehua Only Player of Waldner's Class

January 11, 1999 - 0:0
PARIS China's table tennis great Guo Yuehua of the late 70's and early 80's was the only player in recent times who could compare with the legendary Jan-Ove Waldner, according to 1991 world champion Jorgen Persson of Sweden. Waldner is simply a legend, said Persson. Guo is probably the only other player in recent times who can compare to him as a great player with such a complete game.

And like Waldner, Guo played in four world men's singles finals, winning two. Persson, still competing at the highest level and world-ranked eighth, claimed Guo was the best of his generation. Guo had a fantastic service, and a great all-round attacking game with a penholder grip, said Persson. Even the two finals he lost was at a time when China were suspected of not giving 100 percent in all of their international matches.

I think Guo would have been Olympic champion had table tennis been in the Olympics when he was at his peak. Guo, the 1981 and 1983 world champion, was indisputably the best of his time. He was also runner-up in 1977, losing to Japan's Mitsuri Kohno in Birmingham, England, and in 1979, to Seiji Ono of Japan in Pyongyang, North Korea, when injury forced Guo to retire.

China were generally believed to be deliberately losing some top international matches during Guo's era to try and lessen their domination of the world game to improve friendship between nations. Guo, consequently, was suspected of not giving his all in both of his losing world finals. Waldner, in Paris for the ITTF pro-tour finals, agreed with Persson that Guo would have been Olympic champion had he competed.

However Waldner, the 1992 Olympic champion, former European champion and twice world singles winner, added he had never played Guo though their careers did overlap. Waldner sensationally reached the pinnacle of the sport when, as a 16-year-old, he reached the final of the 1980 European men's singles event, losing to compatriot Mikael Appelgren. It's difficult to say whether I am better than Guo was or not although we have a similar record in World Championships. Guo was certainly legendary and one of the best ever players.

Guo had everything both technically and mentally. (AFP)