Greek National Championships
Tasos RINIOTIS in Men’s and Christina FILI in Women’s are champions of Greece in singles for the season 2016-2017. The Olympiacos’ player managed to reach the first time in his career the top and to break the 15 years old tradition like John VLOTINOS and Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU. RINIOTIS participated for the second consecutive season in the final.
John SGOUROPOULOS also had his moment of glory at the National championship in STIGA Hall of Peace and Friendship Stadium. 17 years old John SGOUROPOULOS played his first final and was the one who beat PAPAGEORGIOU the player who won last seven consecutive semifinals.
The first position was also special moment for FILI. It may have been the eighth trophy but it added another value for the 38 years of former international player! The athlete of D.A.O. Taurus also prevailed in doubles. For the second consecutive year she excelled with Georgia ZAVITSANOU from Sarises Florinas. In Men’s Doubles brothers George and Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS of A.O. Pefkis defended their title.
Giorgos VASILIADIS the Sports Minister of Greece attended the matches on Sunday. Minister VASILIADIS is close to the table tennis and month earlier he visited the stadium for the big game of men’s national team against England for ECQ. Another presence that surprised the crowd was the Romanian Bernadette SZOCS. One of the best athletes of Europe is injured from February 5th (has to strain shoulder) not playing and decided to go in Athens for 12 days in order to make holidays and treatment.
Finals
RINIOTIS – SGOUROPOULOS 4-2 (11-9 11-9 12-10 5-11 3-11 12-10)
FILI-TOLIOU 4-0 (11-6 13-11 12-10 11-2)
KONSTANTINOPOULOS/K. KONSTANTINOPOULOS – RINIOTIS/PAPAGEORGIOU 3-1 (11-1 8-11 11-5 11-9)
FILI/ZAVITSANOU-KIOUFI/EXARCHOU 3-0 (11-9 11-8 11-8)
MEN’S SINGLES:
- Tasos RINIOTIS (Olympiacos)
- John SGOUROPOULOS (Olympiacos)
- Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU (Olympiacos)
-. George KONSTANTINOPOULOS (AO Pefkis)
WOMEN’S SINGLES:
- Christina FILI (D.A.O. Taurus)
- Katerina TOLIOU (D.A.O. Taurus)
- Aliki KIOUFI (Sarises Florinas)
-. Filareti EXARCHOU (D.A.O. Taurus)
MEN’S DOUBLES:
- George KONSTANTINOPOULOS/Konstantinos KONSTANTINOPOULOS (A.O. Pefkis)
- Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU/Tasos RINIOTIS (Olympiacos)
- John SGOUROPOULOS/George STAMATOUROS (Olympiacos)
-. George PANTERIS / John PAPADAKIS (A.O. Pefkis/Iraklis Salonica)
WOMEN’S DOUBLES:
- Georgia ZAVITSANOU/Christina FILI (Sarises Florinas/D.A.O. Taurus)
- Eleni GEORGIADOU/Aliki KIOUFI (YMCA Salonica/Sarises Florinas)
- Olga GEORGOPOULOU/Maria CHRISTOFORAKI (Pera Athens/Olympiacos)
-. Filareti EXARCHOU/Katerina TOLIOU (D.A.O. Taurus)
