(By ETTU)

2017 ITTF Challenge Zagreb Open

Panagiotis GIONIS of Greece beat young Frenchman, Tristan FLORE (11-5, 11-6, 9-11, 5-11, 12-10, 11-6) to secure the top step of the medal podium in the Men’s Singles event at the 2017 ITTF Challenge Zagreb Open. He won his first title at either an ITTF World Tour or ITTF Challenge Series tournament.

After Kalinikos KREANGA, GIONIS becomes only the second player representing the Greece to win an ITTF World Tour or ITTF Challenge Series Men’s Singles title.

The Swedish pairings Viktor BRODD and Hampus NORBERG won the Men’s Doubles event. They were required to compete in the qualification tournament since they were not seeded, but it did not stop them to clinch the title. In the final they beat the Czech Republic combination of Tomas KONECNY and Tomas POLANSKY, the no.5 seeds (11-9, 11-6, 12-10).

Japan’s Honoka HASHIMOTO won the Women’s Singles title. The no.2 seed, at the final hurdle she accounted for Austria’s Sofia POLCANOVA, the no.6 seed. She won in four straight games (11-8, 11-8, 11-9, 11-6). HASHIMOTO, partnering Hitomi SATO won the Women’s Doubles title as well. They accounted for surprise finalists, Belarus qualifiers Nadezhda BOGDANOVA and Daria TRIGOLOS (14-12, 11-7, 11-7) to secure the title.

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