Dubai gear up for water polo

World’s best teams to begin intense battle at Hamdan Sports Complex starting from today

Officials at the Press conference to announce details of the Fina Water Polo World League Super Final . — KT photo by Mukesh Kamal

The eight best men’s water polo teams in the world will go into intense battle at the Hamdan Sports Complex, off the Emirates Highway, from Monday to June 21.

Defending champions Serbia have a tough field to contend with especially the challenges that is expected from world champions and silver medallists in the last edition, Hungary, the powerful Montenegro squad and Brazil.

The early arrivals for the Dubai showdown included Australia, Brazil, Canada and the US who have already hit the pool for training for the past three days. US coach Dejan Udovicic, said: “We are the youngest team here and are definitely in a team building phase with USA Water Polo, we are building for the future. We have new players and a new approach, and our aim is 2016 and 2020 Olympics.

“We won the Intercontinental Tournament, and qualifying for this tournament is important as it is a good chance to play the top teams, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro. If we perform well in the first two matches, we should make it to the semi-finals here, but anything can happen in water polo.”

A media announcement session was held at the complex, considered by many in the world, including the eight teams here, as the best. Attending the press conference were Gianni Lonzi, chairman of the Fina (world body) technical water polo committee, and Dubai Sports Council and the UAE Swimming Federation.

Also in attendance were Brazilian coach Rotko Rudic and Tibor Benedek, the Hungarian coach.

The six-day event will see the sides split into two groups with the semis on on June 20 and the title round at 6.30pm on June 21.

Matches in the $100,000 first prize championship start at 2.30pm and the tickets will be priced at Dh40 per day. Children below 12 can enter free. In the four-match a day rounds on all days, Brazil are tipped to enter last eight stage from their group (A) which includes Serbia, China and bronze medallists in the previous chapter Montenegro. Group B is made up of the US, Hungary, Australia and Canada.

Benedek said: “This is ideal preparatory ground for the next world championships in Budapest. The field in Dubai is the best one can get to start training for the worlds.”

Rudic said: “Brazil are comparatively a young team and we could as willing underdogs learn fast and upset some of the leading teams in the worlds this time. We played well in the intercontinental tournament (qualifiers) in China last month.”