Greece: two gold medals for PAPAGEORGIOU and FILI

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Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU in men and Christina FILI in women were the central figures in National Championship 2013 of Greece that took part this weekend in STAG area of Peace and Friendship Stadium. Athletes of Pera Athens won two titles and enlarged their rich collection with gold medals in all the events! In the men’s single PAPAGEORGIOU reached gold for the fourth consecutive season and fifth overall. In doubles became champion for the third year in a row with his teammate in Pera Kostas LAGOGIANNIS. Fili made an impressive comeback after abstaining the last season due to familiar reasons and took the seventh title in her career in the most important event. In doubles women she dominated with Laura NIKOULAE also from Pera Athens.

In the final of men’s singles PAPAGEORGIOU was much better than Lefteris MAKRAS and won 4-0. In the semifinals he beat by the same score Kostas LAGOGIANNIS, while Makras achieved a great victory 4-1 over John VLOTINOS, who holds the record for national titles in singles event – 14.

“I always feel a pressure by trying to repet the success. Especially in the beginning there was anxiety. However as the game progresed I started to play better, find rhythm slowly and succeeded. I did not expect LEFTERIS in the final, but VLOTINOS, who despite his age remains very strong opponent” PAPAGEORGIOU said.

In the final of women’s singles FILI made great performance and left no room for reaction to NIKOULAE. She recorded the straight games victory after just 16 minutes. In the semifinals FILI and NIKOULAE eliminated two regular athletes of national women’s team, CHRISTOFORAKI and EXARCHOU with 4-1 and 4-2 respectively.

FILI dedicated the new title to her family: “I was not expecting this. Still can not believe that I made it after 18 months of abstinence . In quarter finals I realized that I had enough strength, in spite of lack of training. I enjoyed this competition more then all the previous. I dedicate it to my little girl and my husband and then to my coach Vlotinos and my teammate Laura, who worked hard to prepare me for come back, I did come back”.

RESULTS – Finals: Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU-Lefteris MAKRAS 4-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-5, 11-5) Christina FILI-Laura NIKOULAE 4-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-2, 11-6) Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU/Kostas LAGOGIANNIS-Ioannis VLOTINOS/Lefteris MAKRAS 3-2 (10-12, 11-4, 11-8, 7-11, 11-3) Laura NIKOULAE/Christina FILI–Georgia ZAVITSANOU/Olga GEORGOPOULOU 3-0 (11-5, 13-11, 11-9)

Medal rostrum

MEN’ S SINGLES: 1. Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU (A.S. Pera Athens) 2. Lefteris MAKRAS (A.S. Pera Athens) 3. John VLOTINOS (G.A.S. Lesvos) -. Kostas LAGOGIANNIS (A.S. Pera Athens)

WOMEN’ S SINGLES: 1. Christina FILI (A.S. Pera Athens); 2. Laura NIKOULAE (A.S. Pera Athens); 3. Maria CHRISTOFORAKI (-). Filareti EXARCHOU (Olympiacos)

MEN’ S DOUBLES: 1. Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU/Kostas LAGOGIANNIS (A.S. Pera Athens) 2. John VLOTINOS/Lefteris MAKRAS (G.A.S. Lesvos/A.S. Pera Athens) 3. George KANASIS/George DALIANIS (A.O. Amfitheas) -. George KONSTANTINOPOULOS/Konstantinos KONTSANTINOPOULOS (A.O. Amphitheas/A.O. Pefkis)

WOMEN’ S DOUBLES: 1. Laura NIKOULAE/Christina FILI (A.S. Pera Athens) 2. Olga GEORGOPOULOU/Georgia ZAVITSANOU (AS Pera Athens/Foinikes Patras) 3. Despina DANDOULA/Konstantina PARIDI (Olympiacos/AO. Foinix Piraeus) -. Vania ZANEVA / Anita CHATSATRIAN (YMCA Thessaloniki/Kalamaria YMCA Academies)

(EWT)

Photo: Women’s Singles’ awarding ceremony