Greece’s women’s water polo team qualify for 2024 Paris Olympic Games

·

The unstoppable Greek women’s water polo team won the bronze medal at the European Championships after defeating Italy and also secured their qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

According to Ant1live, the Greek national team won their fifth European Women’s Water Polo Championship medal and 13th overall, after beating Italy 7-6 in the minor final.

The bronze medal was not the only gain from that success, as the team also secured qualification for the Paris Olympics this summer, their first since 2008 and fourth overall.

European Waterpolo Championship
The girls defeated Italy 7-6. Photo: Ant2live.

The orders of Alexia Kammenou in the previous days swirled in the minds of the internationals, who implemented them to the letter. The defense improved, the Greek women faced the Italian team even with one less player and all that was left was to make the attack work.

Irini Ninou gave the signal, followed by Margarita Pleuritou and Alexandra Asimaki. In between, Ioanna Stamatopoulou had saved a penalty by the Italian girls, who had several attempts on the crossbar, just like Greece, however.

In the 2nd eight minutes, Greece continued their excellent defense and after a goal by Elena Xenakis, they gained a safe lead. Italy kept sending the ball to the post (even the goalkeeper had such an effort at the last second) and failed to score.

The Greek defense continued to prevent the Italian counter-attack, who scored after 14 minutes through Roberta Bianconi. The problem for Greece was that they too could not score until Asimaki turned back the years and made it 5-2 18 minutes from the end of the period.

Italy was playing its… best in the 4th period, at the same time as Greece collapsed. Two unanswered goals put Italy back into the game, with Eleftheria Pleuritou trying to break their momentum. The dismissal of Matrias Patra and the goals of Giulia Viacava and Silvia Avenio (with a penalty) brought the game to a level.

Nicole Eleftheriadou’s fireball at 3:30 from the end gave the Greek team a breather, which then defended with all its might and kept the lead until the end.

The end of the race found Greece on the winners’ podium and with a ticket to Paris in the summer.

After this victory, Kammenou’s team climbs to the third place of the podium and adds to its collection the 13th medal in its history and the first bronze at the European level.

Source: Ant1live.

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Kostas Sloukas praises Greek Australian fans as Panathinaikos arrive in Sydney

Panathinaikos BC touched down in Sydney this week for the second leg of the 7th Pavlos Giannakopoulos Tournament.

From family legacy to the Federal Court: A look into Justice Anastasis Liveris’ legal career

In an exclusive interview with The Greek Herald, the Greek Australian judge reflected on how he felt to achieve this major career milestone.

The Greek influence on Australian television

Among the many communities that helped shape TV culture were Greeks, whose presence both on and off screen left a lasting mark.

Critically endangered monk seal welcomes newborn on Karpathos island

The first Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) birth of 2025 has been confirmed on the island of Karpathos.

Campaigners celebrate as Milos luxury hotel project is halted

Environmental activists have welcomed the suspension of a controversial five-star hotel project on Milos’s world-famous “moon beach”.

You May Also Like

‘I’m here because of him’: People rally in Sydney to support neurosurgeon Charlie Teo

One of Australia's well-known neurosurgeons, Dr Charlie Teo, was greeted by a large crowd of supporters today before his hearing in Sydney.

Archbishop Makarios of Australia issues Easter Message for 2025

Archbishop Makarios of Australia has released his 2025 Easter message, reflecting on the impact of loneliness.

Suspects charged with terrorism for attacking Golden Dawn offices

Two persons have been arrested in an operation mounted by the counter-terrorism squad in Athens, for targeting the offices of right-right party Golden Dawn.