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TABLE TENNIS
Table tennis has been played in Finland for more than 90 years, but Finnish players have never yet made an impact at major
international tournaments. In Rio 2016 Benedek Oláh will make history by becoming the first ever Finnish table tennis player
at the Olympic Games.
MEN
Benedek Oláh
* 19 March 1991 Kalajoki
Present residence: Budapest (Hungary)
191 cm, 87 kg
Club: SZERVA ASE I (Hungary)
Coaches: Mattias Bergkvist, Péter Aranyosi
Benedek Oláh has dominated men’s table tennis in Finland for the past five years. In 2015 he reached the top 64
at the World Championships in Suzhou, China, the best achievement for Finnish players in living memory. The year
2016 has seen him rise to the top 100 in the ITTF world ranking as the first ever Finnish male player, thus earning
a place at the Olympic tournament in Rio de Janeiro. Benedek’s parents moved from Hungary to Finland before he
was born. He is currently based in Budapest where he trains with the Hungarian national team. Benedek used to
play volleyball as well in his junior years.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
2008 EurJunCh 9–16th singles.
2009 EurCh 33–64th singles.
2011 EurCh 33–64th doubles (with Roope Kantola).
2012 EurCh heats singles.
2013 WCh 161st singles, 65–80th doubles (with Otto Tennilä). EurCh heats singles.
2015 WCh 33–64th. singles, 33–64th doubles (with Miikka O’Connor).
Mattias Bergkvist
Coach
Team Management