Gionis Panagiotis Modern Defender

2017-03-30 8

Panagiotis Gionis (born January 7, 1980) is a Greek table tennis player and a dentist. He is a member of the Greek National Team and has competed in 4 Olympics and many World and European Championships. He has been playing professionally in Germany and France since 2001. Currently, he is playing for German club Borussia Düsseldorf and is being sponsored by TAMASU BUTTERFLY
In May 2011, he qualified directly for the London 2012 Summer Olympics based on his ITTF world ranking. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he lost in the third round to Japan's Seiya Kishikawa. He placed 3rd in the men's single 2013 LIEBHERR European Championships and second in the team event. He is currently ranked 21st in the world and 7th in Europe. In Aug 2014 he was invited to participate in the mixed European team that will compete in Asia vs. Europe All Star Challenge on November 1–2, 2014 in Zhang Jia Gang, China.

In April 2016, he secured his spot at the 2016 Summer Olympics by winning the group final match at the ITTF European Olympic Games Qualification Tournament in Halmstad, Sweden. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, he defeated Padasak Tanviriyavechakul of Thailand in the second round. He was defeated by Jun Mizutani of Japan in the third round.

Achievements:
4x Olympic Games Participant (2016 Rio, 2012 London, 2008 Beijing, 2004 Athens)
16x Participant World Championships 1997-2014
15x Participant European Championships 1997-2013
Finalist European Championships Team 2013
Bronze Medal European Championships Singles 2013
Bronze Medal European Champions league (with Angers) 2013
Bronze Medal ITTF World Tour, Swedish Open Singles 2013
Bronze Medal European Cup Top 16 Singles 2015
Round of 16 European Championships Singles 2012
Round of 16 European Championships Doubles 2012
Finalist ETTU Cup (with Angers) 2012
Round of 16 Hungarian Open Singles 2012
Winner Pescara Mediterranean Games Singles 2009
Round of 16 World Championships Singles 2009
Gold medal Belgian Open Championship Singles 2006
Winner Luxemburg Open Singles 2006
Winner Luxemburg Open Team 2006
Bronze Medal Swedish Pro Tour Doubles 2005
Silver Medal Polish Open Doubles 2004
Silver Medal Belgian Open Championship 2004
Bronze Medal Egypt Pro Tour Doubles 2004
Winner Bulgarian Open 2003
6th place World Championship Team 1997
1st place in Men’s U21 Balkan Championship Doubles 1996
1st place in U21 European Championship Singles 1996
1st place in U21 Balkan Championship Singles 1996
1st place in U15 Balkan Championship Singles 1992