Christina Gentzou made history by winning Greece’s first medal in taekwondo at the Paralympic Games, opening the medal account for the Greek delegation in Paris, and placing Greece on the medal board.

The 19-year-old defeated China’s Yinan Yao with a score of 14-4 in the bronze medal match of the 65kg (K44 category) and became the first Greek athlete to win a medal in this event.

Greek Participation on Day 3 of the Paralympic Games:

The third day of the 17th Paralympic Games will feature a rich program of Greek athletes, with Greece competing in five sports, and athletics welcoming the first Greek competitors.

On Saturday, August 31, the action begins with Sotiris Galogravros competing in shooting. The Greek champion will compete in the qualifying round of the 10m air rifle SH1 at 10:30, with the events taking place at the Châteauroux.

In the impressive Grand Palais, Elena Papastamatiou will start her knockout rounds in taekwondo at 11:31, with her first opponent in the +65kg K44 category being Patricia Kierehma from Ghana.

In La Défense Arena on the other side of Paris, swimmers will be competing again. Dimitris Karypidis and Nikos Kontoud will participate in the 50m backstroke S1 final at 20:22, while Areti Aravela Spiridou will compete in the 50m backstroke S2 at 12:03.

Athletics will see its first Greek appearance with Lida Manthopoulou running in the 100m T38. The 19-year-old sprinter will compete at Stade de France, aiming to qualify for the final with heats starting at 12:41. In the evening, at 20:04, the final of the F32 shot put will feature Thanasis Konstantinidis, Lazaros Stefanidis, and Dimitris Zisis.

Boccia also has a busy day in Paris’s South Arena. Anna Denta will play against Newrka Kaloupe (Peru) in the BC3 category at 15:00, and at 18:00, Grigoris Polychronidis will face Mateus Carvalho (Brazil) in the BC3 category as well. Chrysi Morfi Metzou will compete against Noor Matt Salim (Malaysia) in the BC4 category at 21:45.

Schedule for Greek Athletes on Day 3:

Shooting

• 10:30 (ERT2) – Sotiris Galogravros – 10m air rifle SH1

Taekwondo

• 11:31 (ERT2) – Elena Papastamatiou vs. Patricia Kierehma (Ghana) K44, +65kg

Swimming

• 12:03 (ERT2) – Areti Aravela Spiridou – 50m backstroke S2
• 20:22 (ERT2) – Dimitris Karypidis, Nikos Kontoud – 50m backstroke S1

Athletics

• 12:41 (ERT2) – Lida Manthopoulou – 100m T38
• 20:04 (ERT2) – Thanasis Konstantinidis, Lazaros Stefanidis, Dimitris Zisis – Shot Put, F32

Boccia

• 15:00 (ERT2) – Anna Denta vs. Newrka Kaloupe (Peru) – BC3
• 18:00 (ERT2) – Grigoris Polychronidis vs. Mateus Carvalho (Brazil) – BC3
• 21:45 (ERT2) – Chrysi Morfi Metzou vs. Noor Matt Salim (Malaysia) – BC4