Every opening game is tricky. If you winit, your chances to go far in the tournament will be boosted, but if you lose it you might find yourself in Trouble.

Hosts’ Greece opening game to defend the world title they won four years ago in Kazan, was tricky indeed, but they dramatically managed to avoid defeat, beating Mexico in the shoot-out.

All sets were decided in the end. Magda Kepesidou, made some great saves, to help Greece make it 1-0 thanks to a 5:0 run which turned 18:18 to 23:18.

In the second set, the Mexicans went up 14:8. Poimenidou failed to make it all square, missing a penalty with the score tight at 16. Uresty scored to make it 19:14 and send the match to a third set.

In the shoot-out, Vargas and Mournoudidn’t hit the netin their attempts. On the final shot, Rivera lost control of the ball and Diakogianni scored one point to seal Greece’s victory.

Greece– Mexico2-1 (23:18, 18:22, 7:6)

Greece: Kepesidou M. 2, Kerlidi 8, Poimenidou 2, Kaloidi, Mournou 12, Dimitri 15, Trochidou 8, Logdanidou, Diakogianni 1, Kepesidou N.

Mexico: Hernandez, Macias 12, Salazar, Vargas 11, Berra, Rivera, Mejia 6, Uresty 15, De Leon, Valenzuela 2.

Referees: Al Hail, Alyafei (Qatar) S: 2:3