Two brilliant representatives of the all-kids category brought another international distinction for Greek table tennis, they left new encouraging signs for the future on foreign tables.
On the first day of the New Year GEWO CUP 2024, which takes place from yesterday 13/12 in Novi Sad, Serbia, Theofanis-Frixos Markoulakis and Nikos Alexidis won undefeated first place in the boys team of the Under12 category (young cadet boys). They dominated all their opponents and notably won 2-0 in all four of their group and knockout matches.
In the girls’ team and the category Under14 (cadet girls), Greece/Romania with Aphrodite Sarikakis and Bejane Boglarka was eliminated in a group of 4.
In the young cadet boys there were 15 entries. The teams were initially divided into five groups. Greece dominated the 1st group beating two Serbian teams 2-0. The match continued with a scoreboard of “8” and Markoulakis/Alexidis having a bye in the 1st round. In the semi-finals they eliminated Serbia 3 with 2-0 and in the final they defeated Serbia 1 with the same score under the guidance of Michalis Angelidis.
The two guys scored one win in each match and no match went to the double of the Corbion system. Thessaloniki’s Alexidis enjoyed his first gold medal abroad, Haniotis Markoulakis added it to the one he won some time ago in the singles of the mini girls in a tournament in Riga, Latvia.
10 teams participated in cadet girls. Three groups were created and the combined Greece/Romania was in 3rd, which was 4th. The task of qualifying turned out to be very difficult for Sarikaki and Roumana Boglarka. They lost 2-0 to Serbia 1 and Serbia 2 and beat Bosnia/Herzegovina 2-0. They took 3rd place in the group and were out of the table. Konstantinos Dimitrakopoulos was the technical guide.
The annual Vojvodina tournament continues at the weekend with the singles event. Markoulakis and Alexidis will take part in the Under12 and Under14 categories, while Sarikaki will compete in the Under14 and Under18 categories.
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