Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Saudi Table Tennis Federation has signed Swedish coach and former world champion Jörgen Persson to lead the Kingdom’s national teams, marking a significant step in the development of the sport in Saudi Arabia.

The signing was announced at the federation’s headquarters in Riyadh, where Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Nasser, President of the Saudi Table Tennis Federation, hailed the move as a key moment in building a world-class sports system.

“Jörgen Persson’s experience and legacy are a valuable addition to our vision of building a world-class sports system,” said Prince Mohammed.

“We are committed to developing a new generation of elite athletes, and Persson will play a pivotal role in shaping future champions.”

In his remarks following the appointment, Persson expressed his pride in joining the Kingdom’s sporting journey.

“It is an honor to join Saudi Arabia’s journey in developing table tennis at the highest levels,” he said.

“The Kingdom has shown great ambition and commitment, and I’m inspired by the vision for this sport. There is enormous potential here, and we aim to build a strong foundation that will spread table tennis across the country, foster professional environments, and prepare players to compete internationally.”

Persson brings with him a distinguished coaching résumé, including leading Sweden to the 2023 European Team Championship title in Malmö — the nation’s first in 21 years — and reaching the final of the 2019 World Championship with Mattias Falck. He also guided the Swedish national team to the final of the 2024 Olympic Games.

As a player, Persson’s illustrious career includes winning gold at the 1992 European Championships in both singles and team events, capturing team gold at the 1993 and 2000 World Championships, earning silver in the 1997 World Championships doubles competition, and making top finishes at the 2000 and 2008 Olympic Games. He also became world champion in the veteran 50–54 age category.