Four men and three women will represent Greek at the European Championships in Denmark. Athletes Panagiotis GIONIS, Kallinikos KREANGA, Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU, Kostas LAGOGIANNIS, Katerina TOLIOU, Maria CHRISTOFORAKI and Filareti EXARCHOU are the main choice,
Four men and three women will represent Greek at the European Championships in Denmark. Athletes Panagiotis GIONIS, Kallinikos KREANGA, Kostas PAPAGEORGIOU, Kostas LAGOGIANNIS, Katerina TOLIOU, Maria CHRISTOFORAKI and Filareti EXARCHOU are the main choice of the national coaches Kostas VATSAKLIS and George KARITSAS. President of H.T.T.F. Manolis KOLYMBADIS will lead the delegation.
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For Greece there is more of a strong desire, then a goal, for one of their aces to win another medal for the Greek table tennis at the European Championships. Panagiotis GIONIS, who is seeded no. 16, believes that if has good draw can make the dream of a medal at the European Championship. In addition, be sure that Kallinikos KREANGA is able to reach good position despite the fact he is 41 year-old. The last time Greece celebrated medal at the European Championships was in Aarhus in 2005. Coincidentally the team is again in a territory of Denmark… Seven years ago KREANGA was second in doubles and third in singles.
“The first goal is to reach round of 16. After that I want to break the barrier of “16″ in singles European Championships, but as I always stresses, much depends on the draw. With a little bit of luck we can talk about the medal. The European Championship is a competition that lets aspirations for a medal, but you need a little luck. If you are in good shape, if you catch rate and star everything is possible”, said Panagiotis GIONIS.
Speaking about KREANGA, GIONIS added: “He took two golds at the European Championships and many more medals in all the events. 41 years of not, do not forget that he won the Top-12 and in good day can beat any adversary. So why not go for one medal more! “
Women team of Greece will try to achieve as much as possible without stress. Three athletes will test their abilities and seek to qualify for the main round of the single.
“This is a first class opportunity for us to test our team and to see where we are. We will give our best, the level is high, and as there is no pressure of a big goal I can play freely. The event will have for us the same stress as when we play as a team. I believe we can pass the qualification stages successfully,” said Filareti EXARCHOU.
ETTU TV powered by LAOLA1.tv will be streaming the best of the action from table one LIVE and FREE as well as on-demand action from table one and two after the matches have been played here: http://ettu.laola1.tv
(by I. FAKAROS, courtesy HTTF)
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Photo: Greek Panagiotis GIONIS (Péhoto Roscher)
