Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece and Milosz REDZIMSKI of Poland have secured the first two tickets for the Men's Singles event at the Paris 2024 Olympics through the European Olympic Singles Qualification.
This will mark GIONIS' sixth Olympic appearance, while the 17-year-old REDZIMSKI will make his debut on the Olympic stage.
In a thrilling Olympic ticket match, 44-year-old GIONIS triumphed over Slovakia's Yang WANG in straight games (12:10, 11:5, 11:8, 14:12). Throughout the qualifying tournament, GIONIS displayed exceptional form by defeating opponents like Alexander GILLEN of Ireland, Niagol STOYANOV of Italy, and Martin ALEGRO of Belgium without dropping a game. Cedric NUYTINICK of Belgium managed to take a game off GIONIS, while only Yaroslav ZHMUDENKO of Ukraine pushed him to a full-distance match.
Reflecting on his qualification journey, GIONIS acknowledged the challenges he faced due to his age and previous injuries, emphasizing the emotional intensity of the tournament. With strategic preparation alongside his coach Kostas VATSAKLIS and training in Düsseldorf, GIONIS navigated the demanding competition successfully.
Despite expectations for a tough battle with another defensive player, GIONIS demonstrated dominance against WANG, showcasing his determination and perseverance. Reflecting on the significance of representing Greece once again on the global stage, GIONIS expressed his pride in waving the Greek flag and recalled the memorable silver win at the 2013 European Championships in Schwechat.
