Belgian breaks barrier in intense table tennis rally

If you can't go round it, go straight through it.

It's a notion a Belgian table tennis player prescribed to when he broke through an advertising hoarding to stay in an intense rally at the European Games.

Jean-Michel Saive was playing Sweden's Kristian Karlsson when he found himself in a vicious exchange during the second game.

Saive, receiving in the red, was quickly on the back foot as his Swedish rival continually pinned him to the back of the court.

Despite some amazing scrambling, the Belgian was eventually forced so wide he was pushing against the advertising hoarding.

And when Karlsson released one final killer blow, the 45-year-old had no choice but to break through the barrier with a loud crack.

The win-at-all-costs attitude couldn’t save Saive, losing the point and eventually the match 4-1.