Greece’s Women’s National Water Polo Team has made history, claiming their first ever world championship title after defeating Hungary 12–9 in a commanding final performance in Singapore.
Led by coach Haris Pavlidis, the youthful Greek side delivered a statement victory, overturning an earlier group-stage loss to Hungary and dominating the final from start to finish. With unyielding defence and clinical execution, Greece shut down their opponents’ power plays and never looked back after taking an early lead.
“This team is the pride of Hellenism across the globe,” said Pavlidis after the match. “They played not only with skill but with spirit. This is a golden generation.”
Goalkeeper Ioanna Stamatopoulou was phenomenal, tallying 14 saves and orchestrating a defensive wall that held Hungary scoreless in their first ten player-advantage situations. The Greek attack didn’t need to reach top gear — their disciplined play and strategic execution were more than enough to control the tempo and seal the win well before the final whistle.
A tournament to remember
The Greek team’s journey to the top was anything but smooth. After a shock 10–9 loss to Hungary in their opening match on July 11, the side bounced back with crushing wins over Croatia (31–7) and Japan (25–15), followed by a shaky but ultimately emphatic 23–9 victory over France in the Round of 16.
Their quarterfinal against Australia proved pivotal. In a tightly contested battle, Maria Myriokephalitaki scored a sensational last-minute goal to clinch an 8–7 victory and send Greece to the semis.
There, they faced defending champions USA — and stunned them with a 14–10 win, with standout performances from Eleftheria and Vaso Plevritou, and a game-saving goalkeeping display by Stamatopoulou.
Redemption in the final
Coming into the final, Pavlidis expressed his wish to face Hungary again — “We owe them one,” he said after the semifinal — and his team delivered. They built a 9–4 lead by the third quarter and never relinquished control.
Tricha finished as top scorer with three goals in the final, backed by Xenaki and Santa with two each. Hungary managed a late flurry, but it was far too little, too late.
The final quarter was more of a formality — as players and staff celebrated on the pool deck, the magnitude of their accomplishment began to sink in.
National leaders react
President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas praised the team, saying:
“Warm congratulations to the athletes and coach Haris Pavlidis for this historic gold medal. In just a few months, they’ve reached the top twice — after winning gold at the World Cup in China, now world champions in Singapore. They honour our country and make us proud.”
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis added:
“Greece is on top of the world! Congratulations to our women’s national water polo team for the gold medal — you filled us with joy and pride!”
Opposition leader Sokratis Famellos echoed the sentiment:
“This is not just a sports victory — it’s a message of hope. These young women have shown that with belief, hard work, and love, nothing is impossible. You are the Greece that moves us, unites us, and gives us strength.”
