It was hard to look around the table tennis finals on Wednesday at the Arctic Winter Games and not feel like you were seeing double.
There was Greenlandic participation in all four gold matches and one bronze match. And in two of the finals it was even Greenland versus Greenland.
It also ended with four gold medals, two silver and one bronze.
And coach Jan Berner is very pleased with that.
- Four gold medals out of four possible, so that's good. Personally I believed in two, but we won the other two too, so that's really good, he says.
He praises the boys and U15 girls for technically great matches.
Greenlandic dominance
At the AWG in 2023, it was a similar sight, with Erfalasorput once again taking the medal podium many times. In 2024, the Greenlandic table tennis team did not go, but this year they are back in full swing.
And it can be difficult for the other teams to keep up.
- There are a few players on each team who are at an okay level, but many of the players have a quite low level. But we have won against those who are at roughly the same level as us, says Jan Berner.
Monday there were finals in table tennis doubles, where Greenland won three gold medals and one silver medal.
But if there are only a few players who can challenge the Greenlandic table tennis team, will they get enough of a challenge from going to the AWG?
- First of all, I think they are going for inspiration to continue and keep working at home, says Jan Berner, who hopes the players will be inspired to reach the next level.
More matches on Thursday and Friday
One of the players who won gold on Wednesday is Uiloq Dahl. She played against teammate Uiloq-Amaliannguaq Jakobsen in the U18 girls' competition, where she dominated the final from the start.
- I feel good. I'm still a little nervous, Uiloq Dahl tells Sermitsiaq afterwards.
She will play mixed doubles on Thursday and hopes to win.
And coach Jan Berger also has hopes for the players, but doesn't want to get too carried away.
- Just because we won today, we shouldn't think that we're going to win everything tomorrow, but we have to make a good effort, he says.
Friday there are finals in mixed doubles.
