Hans Alsér

Hans Alsér
Mary Shannon and Hans Alsér in 1963
Personal information
Full name Hans Edward Alsér
Nationality  Sweden
Born (1942-01-23)23 January 1942
Borås
Died 15 January 1977(1977-01-15) (aged 34)
Kälvesta
Playing style Shakehand, All-round Attacker

Hans Alsér (23 January 1942 – 15 January 1977) was a Swedish international table tennis player and later the head coach of West German (1971–1974) and Swedish (1974–1977) national teams.[1] His nickname, Hasse (Alsér or Alser), was often used in media.

Table tennis career

Hans Alsér was an international top level player. He was the European champion (singles) 1962 and 1970, World champion (doubles) 1967 and 1969[2], and European champion (doubles) 1966.[3]

Hans Alsér was Swedish singles Champion six times. During the years 1960–1971 he played in the Swedish singles Championship final every year. The years when he did not become the Swedish singles Champion he was second placed. In 1967 he also became Swedish mixed double Champion with Eva Johansson.

He also won an English Open title.

His playing style was more all-round than most other players in the 1960s. He could attack close to the table but also defend far from the table. He mastered top-spin, chopping, looping and all other types of play.

Stiga (manufacturer of table tennis tables, rackets, rubber and balls) made a very popular racket with the Alsér-grip.[4] It became thicker towards the end of the grip, decreasing the risk of the racket slipping out of the player's grip.

He died in 1977 at the age of 34 in a plane crash at Kälvesta near Stockholm.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hans Alsér". Find A Grave. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  2. ↑ "Men's doubles results" (PDF). International Table Tennis Federation.
  3. ↑ "ALSER Hans (SWE)". International Table Tennis Federation. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  4. ↑ "Hans Alsér racket". Retrieved 2 August 2012.
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