How Eli Ho Can Find Inspiration from Truls Möregårdh to Become a Senior Star in Table Tennis

At just 13 years old, Eli Ho is already recognized as one of New Zealand’s brightest table tennis prospects. With his innovative “TigerWing” style—a hybrid of spin deception, long-pimple defense, and sharp attacking play—Eli has carved a unique identity. He won the 2024 ITTF World Hopes Challenge, a testament to his talent and a significant milestone for a player from the Oceania region.

His rise mirrors, to some extent, that of Sweden’s Truls Möregårdh, who transformed early promise, from a notable alumnus of the ITTF World Hopes Challenge Program into senior-level success by winning silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics and capturing the 2025 WTT Sweden Smash.

Learning from Truls Möregårdh’s Journey

Truls built his career by making bold choices early. At 12, he left his hometown to train in Eslöv, Sweden, one of Europe’s strongest hubs. This constant exposure to elite opponents sharpened his backhand-driven offensive game and prepared him for the world stage. His achievements prove how early talent, when combined with top-level training and innovation, can grow into senior success.

Eli can take inspiration from this pathway. Like Truls, he has the advantage of strong family support. His father, John Ho, not only coaches him but also created the TigerWing style. His sister, once New Zealand’s No. 1, adds valuable experience and encouragement.

Steps Toward Becoming a Senior Champion

Broaden Training Exposure
Eli has already trained in both New Zealand and Taiwan, but to compete with the world’s best seniors, he must continue expanding his horizons. Regular camps in Europe and Asia will sharpen his adaptability and tactical awareness. Facing a variety of high-level opponents is essential, just as it was for Truls.

Build Elite Physical Conditioning
The senior circuit demands stamina, speed, and explosive power. Eli’s TigerWing style is especially demanding because it relies on sudden changes of pace and variation. Developing world-class physical fitness, a tailored strength and conditioning program, will help Eli consistently execute his tactics against the world’s best.
Evolve the TigerWing Philosophy
Innovation is Eli’s greatest weapon, but it must keep evolving. The core of the TigerWing style is deception and variation. As he moves up, opponents will study his game, he and his coaches must continuously refine his long-pimple techniques and tactical variations so that his game stays unpredictable at the senior level even as opponents study him closely. This requires constant innovation to stay one step ahead of the curve.

Inspiration for the Future

The ITTF Hopes program gave Möregårdh the foundational skills, international experience, and confidence to succeed at the highest elite level, which culminated in his historic 2025 Grand Smash victory on home soil.

The World Hopes Program has already spotlighted Eli as a global talent following his 2024 title win, a historic achievement for an Oceania player. By combining his creative style with disciplined training and international exposure, Eli can not only follow Truls Möregårdh’s footsteps—and perhaps even carve out an even greater legacy.

The path ahead is challenging, but with passion, adaptability, and continuous growth, Eli Ho has the potential to be more than a rising star—he can become a defining figure in world table tennis.

Comparison: Truls Möregårdh and Eli Ho

Feature	Truls Moregardh	Eli Ho
Date of Birth	February 16, 2002	March 18, 2012
Age	23 (as of mid-2025)	13 (as of mid-2025)
Playing Style	Classical Offensive: Known for his two-winged loop-and-attack style, exceptional ball feeling, and a powerful backhand. He uses a unique custom-shaped blade and a high-toss serve.	Innovative “TigerWing” Style: A unique hybrid style combining an inverted rubber forehand with a long-pimple rubber on the backhand. Emphasizes deception, spin variation, and a multi-faceted attack.
Family Support	Comes from a table tennis family. His father, Martin Moregardh, is a well-known coach.	Comes from a table tennis family. His father, John Ho, is the founder and head coach of the “TigerWing” style. His sister is a former NZ No. 1 and coach.
Coaching	Coached by his father early on. He has since been part of the Swedish national team and trained with top coaches in Sweden.	Primarily coached by his father, John Ho, who developed the TigerWing style. He is part of the New Zealand national youth team and trained with top coaches in New Zealand and Taiwan.
Moving for Training	Left his hometown at a young age (12) to move to Eslöv, Sweden, a major hub for table tennis. This allowed him to train in a high-level environment with other top players.	Left his hometown at a young age (10) to move to Auckland, New Zealand, a major hub for table tennis. This allowed him to have a better training environment.
World Hopes Program	Truls Möregårdh is a notable 2013 alumnus of the ITTF World Hopes Challenge Program.	A prominent graduate of the program. He won the 2024 ITTF World Hopes Challenge, a testament to his talent and a significant milestone for a player from the Oceania region.
Similarities	Both are table tennis prodigies who achieved significant success at a young age. Both were heavily influenced and coached by their fathers, who are deeply involved in the sport. Both have unique racket setups (Moregardh’s custom blade and Ho’s TigerWing).	Both are table tennis prodigies who achieved significant success at a young age. Both were heavily influenced and coached by their fathers, who are deeply involved in the sport. Both have unique racket setups (Moregardh’s custom blade and Ho’s TigerWing).