Alexandros Madesis and Giorgos Gerakios are leaving on Thursday for Austria in order to take part in the traditionally powerful Leeds Youth table tennis tournament and to check their fitness. The Open starts on Thursday at the well-attended Tips Arena Linz, ends on Sunday and the two teenagers will compete in the Under 19 age category.
Their first goal is to qualify for the main board, but, in any case, the tests lend themselves to useful conclusions. The coach of AEK, Kostas Madesis, will be in technical guidance.
In Under 19, 28 groups have been formed. The last two are of four athletes, all the rest of three and the first two of each will qualify for the board of “64”. The category begins on the 13th of the month, according to the WTT website.
Madesis, current “silver” Balkan champion in the youth team, is number 1 in the Greek K19 rating table and has significant experience from international competitions. Gerakios moved to AEK this year, with a Greek father and an English mother, he recently acquired Greek citizenship and has performed in international youth tournaments.
Madesis, who last Saturday in A1, surprised everyone with his impressive victory against the two-time European champion, Emmanuel Lebesson, was drawn in the 28th and last group. This is the four athletes. He is led by the Italian Federico Valino and also rivals the Slovenian Micha Podobnik and the Polish Gracian Kesik.
Gerakios, who three weeks ago won the bronze medal in the Regional Men’s Championship of Attica, and climbed more than 50 places in the Greek ranking of teenagers (No. 41), since he is in the 26th group.
He will face the Belgian Javier Vats and the Slovak Damian Floro.
There is no Greek participation in the Under 19 mixed doubles.
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