The 2nd day of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (and 1st for the Men’s – Women’s categories), was completed and brought three medals to the Greek team!
Athanasia Zariopi and Ioanna Efthimiou, performed sensational performances and managed to both climb to the third step of the podium, on a day where the friends who were in the stands of the “Dyo Aorakia” stadium gave a pulse and celebrated strongly (especially the Greeks) the successes of their athletes.
Constantinos and Angelos Mylonas also climbed to the podium in the Duo open with an excellent performance, for the third medal of the day.
Athanasia Zariopi at -48k. fighting, managed to reach the bronze medal match through the elimination board. There she faced the Romanian Andrea Ciorney whom she won by ippon at the end of the match and while she already had a lead of 14-9, to take the bronze.
“I feel great because after a year of abstinence the medal came. I am very proud. I dedicate it to my family, my father, my mother who is not here and my brother” she said emotionally.
The second medal in fighting was the ultimate thriller. In the match for the -52k. Ioanna Efthymiou gave her soul for the bronze medal against Nuchalat Singchaland from Thailand. The Thai took a 7-6 lead at the end, but the Greek team called a timeout at the 1:28 mark, with the referees realizing the challenge late. After they examined the phase and he was justified by taking back a point that they gave to the Thai woman and with 9-7 she won the bronze medal, with the Greek stands rioting in Dyo Aorakia!
“I was a bit disappointed after the defeat in the first match and my coach and I said that we will go wherever it comes out. Some games were marginal, but in the end it was what we were aiming for. It happened what we wanted and we got the medal we came for. We dedicate it to everyone. My family, my coach, the world, Greece”
To get there, she had to eliminate Antonia Albanis (9th with very good performances) earlier in a close match with 14-13 in the final and then she got… wings and reached the medal.
Regarding the Mylonas brothers, after winning the bronze medal in Duo, they said: “First time in such an event and we are one step closer to the World Games. We thank our coach, our parents and those who supported us”
The efforts of the other Greek athletes are also noteworthy, as our country placed 7th and 9th in several categories.
The positions of the Greeks in detail
Jiu Jitsu
+70k. women’s:
13th Europe of Nazlidos
15th Athanasia Vetseridis
-94 k. of men
17th place Efstratios Lekkas, Nikos Panagiotakis-Makridis
+94k. of men
13th Konstantinos Drecolias
Ju Jitsu fighting
-48k. of women
3rd Athanasia Zariopi
7th place Katerina Tzani
-62 Mr. of men
7th place Eftichis Bitzanakis
9th place Marios Michelioudakis
-52 Mr. of women
3rd place Ioanna Efthymiou
9th Antonia Albani
-69 Mr. of men
9th place Dimitris Papastavrou
17th place of Kostas Albanis
Duo Mixed
13th place Giannatos / Giannatou
Duo open
3rd place: Mylonas Kon / Mylonas Ag.
7th place: Karzi Nat. / Maria Serve
*Co-organizers of the games are the Ministry of Sports and the Region of Crete, while the World Championships are held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Municipality of Heraklion. The communication sponsor of the games is the Athenian Macedonian News Agency, TV Creta and Creta24.gr
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
