This isn’t the first time the two karateka have faced each other in the finals. In the world championship in 2016, Chatziliadou lost to Uezuka and won second place. Miss Chatrziliadou believes that her victory over the Japanese karateka is important but does not see it as payback.
«What makes this victory important is that I won against the best and strongest contestant. If I had faced a weaker athlete, I don’t think the emotions would be as strong. I wouldn’t call it payback, as some might say. The important thing is that I had the strength, the confidence and everything else that was required to win».
The road to the gold was not easy. Miss Chatziliadou spend some time working in Germany in order to be able to chase her dream as there were no sponsors in Greece. While she was there, she had the opportunity to represent Germany as an athlete but she turned it down. «Ι wouldn’t be able to represent another country besides Greece, no matter how much money I was offered».
So what does the future hold for Eleni Chatziliadou? The Greek Karateka keeps aiming high. Her next goal is to compete and if she’s good enough, win the Gold medal in the Olympics.
Watch Eleni Chatziliadou competing against Ayumi Uezuka here:
