On Wednesday, our National Youth Table Tennis teams achieved a seven-game winning streak at the European Championships in Belgrade, something that may have never been done before in the institution in one match day.
The boys’ and girls’ national teams doubled their success against Nordic powers and, whatever happens in their first-leg final on Thursday, are assured of top spot in their groups. They beat Denmark and Sweden respectively with 3-2 sets.
The junior team also did the “two out of two”, beating Latvia 3-1 and on Thursday they play for the first place in the eighth group against the leader Serbia.
The teenagers did not have another match on Wednesday, have started with a 3-0 set against Estonia and in the decisive third match on Thursday they claim the top spot in the fifth group, facing Israel (top).
We note that the teams that finish first in the groups of the B’ division go to the playoffs and claim with more hopes the promotion to the A’ division.
Two derbies were included in the afternoon section for the blue and white colors and it was a pleasant occasion for the friends of the sport. The boys group (Under 15) came away with a great 3-2 set win against Denmark for the second matchday of the ninth group. He was the toughest opponent in this phase and after two hours our internationals overcame his obstacle to secure first place in the group.
In the other match of the second round, Estonia defeated Cyprus with 3-0 sets.
The Megalonis team is the next opponent on Thursday at 15:00, our national team is the favorite and wants to reach the top only with victories.
In detail, the progress of the match Denmark-Greece 2-3:
Dominicas Samouolis-Dimitris Sotiropoulos 3-1 (11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 14-12)
Johan Engberg Hafsten-Konstantinos Milikoudis 0-3 (6-11, 5-11, 9-11)
Hafsten/Samuolis-Marios Katsaprakakis/Sotiropoulos 0–3 (10-12, 9-11, 8-11)
Samouolis-Milikoudis 3-1 (12-10, 8-11, 11-5, 11-9)
Hofsten-Sotiropoulos 0-3 (9-11, 7-11, 5-11)
On an adjacent table in the “Stark Arena” hall, the girls competed. The threat from the leader Sweden also included a Greek coach, Maria Christoforakis, who is on the Scandinavian team in yet another major competition. The duo of Gaidatzis and Kazakou performed exceptionally well, showed strong psychology in the most critical moments and achieved the precious victory with 3-2 sets after two hours and 20′.
With 4 points it leads the eighth group, on Thursday it completes its games against Montenegro at 10:00 and is not in danger of losing the achievements.
Montenegro already has two defeats by 3-0 sets (the second to Azerbaijan) and our national team, even if they lose in the final, are favored for a possible draw with both Sweden and Azerbaijan, who won 3-1 sets in premiere.
In the decisive fifth match against Sweden, Kazaku lost a match point in the third set, but she was better than her opponent and did not let the opportunity go to waste.
In detail, the development of the match Sweden-Greece 2-3:
Agnes Svensson-Zoi Kazakou 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-5)
Tuva Martha Orendson-Lemonia Gaidatzi 1-3 (6-11, 11-9, 8-11, 6-11)
Orendson/Svenson-Gaidatzi/Kazaku 3-0 (13-11, 12-10, 16-14)
Svensson-Gaidatzi 1-3 (9-11, 7-11, 11-5, 9-11)
Orendson-Kazaku 1-3 (9-11, 11-13, 14-12, 8-11)
The Youth National Team (Under 19) performed another remarkable performance and did not leave much room for reaction in Latvia. After a strong start in the eighth group with a 3-0 set against Scotland, they also overcame Latvia with a 3-1 set.
Two positive results came from position 1 and Papadimitriou, while another first-time athlete, Alexoudi, achieved her best in the crucial third individual match.
Greece are joint top of the group with Serbia, who beat Scotland 3-0 in the other match of the second matchday.
The decisive game with the leader of the group for the first place takes place on Thursday at 12:30.
In detail, the progress of the match Greece-Latvia 3-1:
Malamatenia Papadimitriou-Alexandra Gersova 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-8)
Chrysi Fotiadou-Sabina Mouzageva 1-3 (11-5, 4-11, 7-11, 8-11)
Katerina Alexoudi-Rezigia Melke 3-0 (11-6, 11-6, 11-2)
Papadimitriou-Muzageva 3-0 (11-9, 11-7, 11-7)
For the national youth team, there was a match on Wednesday. The 3-0 victory against Estonia was followed in the afternoon, in the second game, by Israel’s similar victory against the same opponent.
Therefore, Thursday’s match against the leading team of the fifth group at 15:00 will also decide the first place.
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