When Sweden’s Anton Källberg walks into the arena on Tuesday to face Vladimir Sidorenko at Europe Smash, the match carries a weight that reaches beyond the table.Sidorenko is Russian, and unlike the Russian players who spent recent years competing as neutrals, he now takes the table representing Russia, under its flag and anthem. Flags and anthems are written into international sport precisely because they carry national and political meaning. T…
For the first time in four years, Russians are allowed to compete under their own flag in the WTT. Vladimir Sidorenko was pitted against Anton Källberg. The Swede overcame the Russian on his home turf in Malmö.