Women's World League European campaign finishes on high note

AKUATIK. In the last round of the women's World League preliminaries in Europe, held on April 22, visiting Greece defeated Hungary 10-8 in Szekesfehervar to take second in Group B but the win was not enough for the 2011 World champions to earn a berth for the Super Final as Group A's second-seed Russia enjoyed a greater goal average. Russia thus joins Italy and Spain as European qualifiers for the Super Final. 

In an intense match-up, Great Britain proved tremendous against an unchallenged Iberian squad, stunning the reigning World champions 9-7 in front of the home crowd in Manchester.
Meanwhile, the women's teams of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, Venezuela and USA are gearing up for the first-ever FINA Intercontinental Tournament, taking place in Riverside (USA) on May 19-25. The event will qualify four teams for the women's Super Final to be played in Kunshan (CHN) on June 10-15. (fina)

World League: Montenegro and Italy head-to-head for last Super Final spot

AKUATIK. The last round of the men's preliminary European tournament of the FINA Water Polo World League 2014 will be held on April 15 with the remaining three games.

Keeping its World League title defense in sight, Group A leader Serbia will meet Russia in Kragujevac (SRB). Reigning World champion Hungary, currently atop Group B, will face 2012 Olympic champion Croatia in Pecs (HUN). In Group C last encounter, Germany will play Montenegro in Krefeld (GER).

Montenegro, whose squad totals 12 points so far, is head-to-head with Italy for the last Super Final spot. The Italians defeated Slovakia in a tight 14-13 on April 1, earning a total 15 points.
The men's Intercontinental Tournament, which brings together the teams of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Africa and USA, will take place in Shanghai (CHN) from May 27-June 1, 2014.

The best eight teams from the preliminary phase will clash in Dubai (UAE) at the FINA Men's Water Polo World League Super Final, organised from June 16-21. (fina)

Italy and Montenegro to battle for last Super Final spot

AKUATIK. The sixth round of the men's FINA Water Polo World League European preliminaries will decide the last qualifier from that continent for the Super Final taking place in Dubai (UAE) from June 16-21, 2014. 

Group A and B leaders, Serbia and Hungary, have already secured a ticket for the Super Final. The battle for the last spot plays out between Montenegro and Italy in Group C, both totalling 12 points so far. 

On April 1, Slovakia will receive 2011 World champions Italy in Kosice. On April 15, 2013 World League winner Serbia will meet Russia in Kragujevac, current World champions Hungary will face reigning Olympic champions Croatia in Pecs and Montenegro will visit Germany in Krefeld.

Shanghai (CHN) will welcome the men's water polo teams of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Africa and USA for the World League’s Intercontinental Tournament from May 26-June 1, 2014.(fina)

world league: Montenegro, serbia and hungary strengthen lead

With the European preliminaries well underway for the men's and women's FINA Water Polo World League, 2014 promises to be another exciting year for water polo!

The third round of the men's preliminaries was held on January 14, with the teams of Hungary, Italy, Serbia and Montenegro each claiming a win.

2013 World League winner Serbia defeated Russia in Kazan 12-8 and now tops Group A with 6 points, which also includes Romania.

Meanwhile in Sibenik, visiting Hungary stunned 2012 Olympic champion Croatia, winning by a fingernail in penalty shootouts (8-7). The reigning World champions currently lead Group B with 5 points, ahead of Greece and Croatia.

In Group C, Montenegro and Italy secured the 1-2 spots with 9 and 6 points, respectively. In Herceg Novi, World silver medallist Montenegro had a solid win over Germany (13-10) while 2012 Olympic silver medallist Italy eclipsed Slovakia in Bergamo, scoring 12-5.

The next round will take place on February 11 with Romania to face Russia in Bucarest, Greece to receive Hungary in Athens (tbc), Germany to meet Italy in Torino and Montenegro to play Slovakia in Novaky.

The FINA Men's Intercontinental Water Polo Tournament - the World League's preliminary tournament between teams from the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania - will be organised in Shanghai (CHN) from May 26 to June 1, 2014.

Dubai (UAE) will host the Men's Super Final from June 16-21 featuring the eight best teams from the World League's preliminaries.

WOMEN'S WORLD LEAGUE

The European preliminaries for the women's competition resume next week, on January 21, with the third round of matches. Current World champion and 2012 Olympic silver medallist Spain will meet Great Britain in Barcelona while 2011 World champion Greece will pit their strength against World bronze medallist Hungary in Athens.

The Women's Intercontinental Tournament (Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania) will take place in the Los Angeles area (USA) from May 19 - 25, 2014. Beijing (CHN) will organise the women's Super Final from June 10-15, 2014.

Men's WPWL: Serbia, Montenegro and Hungary target Super Final spot

The Super Final race got fiercer among the men's European teams as round 4 of the FINA Water Polo World League preliminaries was held in various cities on February 11, 2014.

Hungary (Group B) and Italy (Group C) had tough match-ups against Greece and Germany, winning 12-11 and 12-10, respectively. Romania (Group A) and Montenegro (Group C) had more comfortable victories. Romania outscored Russia in a gruelling 13-7 while the defending World League champions beat Slovakia 8-5.

Unbeaten so far, Serbia, Hungary and Montenegro give their World League campaign another boost, with their eyes firmly set on the three Super Final tickets up for grabs for Europe. Last year, these teams climbed the podium at the Super Final in Chelyabinsk (RUS) in that same order.

Two more rounds are scheduled for the men's European preliminaries: March 11th (round 5) and April 2nd and 15th (round 6). For the 2014 edition, the men’s Super Final will be organised in Dubai (UAE) from June 16-21, 2014.

Men's World League: Europe prelims resume on February 11

The fourth round of the men's Water Polo World League preliminaries is scheduled for February 11 in various cities in Europe. Romania will face Russia in Bucarest (Group A), Greece will receive Hungary in Athens (tbc, Group B), Germany will meet Italy in Torino and Montenegro will play Slovakia in Novaky (both in Group C).

World silver medallist Montenegro (9 points), 2013 World League winner Serbia (6 points) and Hungary (5 points) currently lead their respective group.

World League 2014: Men's water polo teams back in action next week

POLO AIR. The second round for Europe of the FINA Men's Water Polo World League 2014 is taking place on December 10, 2013.

In Group A, 2013 World League winner Serbia will face Romania in Belgrade. In Group B, Greece meets Olympic champion Croatia in Zagreb. In Group C, World number 2 Montenegro will clash with Olympic silver medallist Italy in Budva while Germany receives Slovakia in Hamburg.

In the inaugural round of games, held on November 12, the teams of Russia, Hungary, Italy and Montenegro were the first to score points in the Super Final race, each claiming a win.

In Chekhov, the Russians beat the Romanians 15-5 (Group A). In Group B, World champion Hungary defeated the visiting Greek squad in Miskolc 8-5. In Group C, Italy crushed Germany 12-7 in Berlin while in Budva, Montenegro stunned Slovakia 13-11.

The four other rounds for these groups will take place on January 14, February 11, March 11, April 2 and 15, 2014.

Among women, the second round is scheduled for December 17, 2013 with the following games:
Group A: GBR-RUS (Manchester)
Group B: ITA-HUN (Catania)

BETAWI CUP 2013: Ajang Pemanasan Timnas Menuju SEA Games

JAKARTA (AKUATIK): Pelaksanaan turnamen polo air internasional Betawi Cup VIII/2013 di Cisarua, Jawa Barat, 21-24 November nanti, berbeda dari pelaksanaan sebelumnya. Pasalnya, event yang dilaksanakan dalam rangka HUT DKI Jakarta ini bukan hanya melibatkan timnas polo air yang dipersiapkan ke SEA Games Myanmar 2013, melainkan juga tim luar negeri yang berkualitas.

Sampai saat ini sudah tercatat delapan tim yang dipastikan tampil, yakni Uzbekistan, Guangzhou, Hunan dari China, Tim PON DKI Jakarta, dan Tim PON Jabar masing-masing dua tim, termasuk timnas polo air SEA Games 2013 yang diperkuat delapan atlet DKI Jakarta.

"Melalui Betawi Cup, kita tingkatkan prestasi polo air Indonesia, khususnya DKI Jakarta," kata Kepala Dinas Pemuda dan Olahraga (Kadispora) DKI Jakarta Ratiyono di Jakarta, Senin (18/11).

Ketua Bidang Pembinaan Prestasi Pengprov PRSI DKI Jakarta Calvin Legawa mengatakan, Betawi Cup yang sudah digelar untuk ke delapan kalinya telah menghasilkan prestasi signifikan bagi DKI Jakarta. Hal ini bisa dilihat dengan diraihnya seluruh medali emas pada PON Riau 2012. Dan, tim polo air Ibu Kota juga tampil menjadi yang terbaik di event nasional, baik kejurnas maupun Liga Polo Air Nasional.

"Betawi Cup ini bukan hanya memberikan pengalaman bertanding bagi tim PON 2016 DKI Jakarta, melainkan bagi timnas SEA Games Myamar 2013. Tim luar negeri yang diundang kualitasnya bisa dipertanggungjawabkan," kata Calvin, sembari menyebut tim polo air Hunan masuk sebagai tim tiga terbaik China.

"Saya tahu persis kualitas tim Hunan, karena tim PON DKI Jakarta pernah menjalani latihan dan uji coba bersama," ucap Calvin, yang menyebut target tim PON DKI Jakarta meraih perak, baik di putra maupun putri.

Dijelaskan Calvin, pertandingan polo air kali ini terpaksa digelar di luar Jakarta. Sebab, pada saat bersamaan, kolam renang Gelora Bung Karno dipergunakan untuk pelaksanaan Kejurnas Renang Indah serta Kejurnas Loncat Indah.

"Soal fasilitas kolam renang untuk meningkatkan prestasi akuatik tak perlu khawatir. Kita sudah merencanakan membangun kolam renang standar internasional di Rawamangun," tutur Ratiyono. (Suara Karya) 

Berlatih di China, Timnas Polo Air semakin Solid

AKUATIK Jakarta: Performa dan kekompakan timnas polo air Indonesia mengalami peningkatan setelah menjalani pelatihan di Guangzhou, China. Hal itu terlihat dari uji tanding dengan timnas junior China.

"Dalam seminggu mereka bisa menjalani tiga kali uji tanding. Dari laporan yang saya terima, hasil yang didapat timnas Indonesia semakin membaik. Bila sebelumnya kalah telak, sekarang bisa semakin memperkecil ketertinggalan," ujar Kepala bidang Pembinaan dan Prestasi Pengurus Besar Persatuan Renang Seluruh Indonesia (PB PRSI) Heru Purwanto, Kamis (7/11).

PB PRSI mengirimkan sembilan atlet timnas polo air ke China pada pertengahan Oktober lalu untuk meningatkan daya tahan dan teknik timnas polo air.

Timnas indonesia diasuh oleh pelatih asal China Chai Shu Li selama menjalani pemusatan latihan di 'Negeri Tirai Bambu' tersebut.

Timnas polo air sebenarnya berisi 13 atlet. Sebanyak empat atlet baru lolos seleksi setelah Liga Polo Air seri III di Surabaya akhir pekan lalu. Mereka baru akan menyusul ke China pada Jumat (8/11).

PB PRSI hanya menurunkan tim putra karena kategori putri tidak dipertandingkan di SEA Games Myanmar.

Pemusatan latihan di China, lanjut Heru, baru akan berakhir pada 16 November mendatang.

"Setelah itu, mereka akan kembali ke Indonesia untuk berlaga di ajang Piala Betawi pada 21-24 November. Di ajang itu, mereka akan berhadapan dengan Uzbekistan dan China," imbuh Heru.

Meski sudah melakukan latihan di China, Heru mengungkapkan target realistis polo air Indonesia di ajang SEA Games hanyalah medali perak.

Pasalnya, selama ini, medali emas cabang olahraga polo air di pesta olahraga negara Asia Tenggara itu tidak pernah lepas dari tangan Singapura.

Singapura juga mempersiapkan dengan serius timnas polo arinya. Negeri jiran itu mengirimkan atlet mereka berlatih di Serbia yang merupakan pemegang juara dunia Polo Air.

Namun, menurut Heru, peluang untuk mengalahkan Singapura bisa terwujud. Hal itu berasal dari kemenangan timnas U-17 polo air Indonesia. Mereka mengalahkan Singapura pada Kejuaraan junior Asia beberapa waktu lalu.

Saat itu, Indonesia berhasil menjadi yang terbaik di Asia Tenggara meski hanya finish di peringkat 4.

"Tiga pemain U-17 itu, saat ini, membela timnas senior. Jadi, kami cukup yakin bisa mengalahkan Singapura. Andai kategori Putri dipertandingkan, mungkin peluang kami akan lebih besar lagi," tandas Heru. (METRONEWS.COM)

DKI Kembali Gelar Kejuaraan Polo Air Piala Betawi

POLO AIR. Jakarta: Untuk kali kedelapan, Pengurus Provinsi Persatuan Renang Seluruh Indonesia (PRSI) DKI Jakarta akan kembali menggelat kejuaraan polo air internasional bertajuk Piala Betawi. Kali ini, kejuaraan yang diikuti oileh tim-tim polo air terbaik dunia itu akan dilaksanakan di kolam renang Seruni, Bogor, Jawa Barat 21-24 November mendatang.

Ajang tersebut juga akan dijadikan sebagai ajang ujicoba terakhir tim nasiona polo air Indonesia yang dipersiapkan untuk SEA Games 2013 Myanmar, "jadi tim polo air putra Indonesia yang disiapkan di SEA Games akan main disini setelah pulang dari China," ujar Ferry Lubis, ketua komisi teknik polo air Pengprov PRSI DKI Jakarta di sela-sela pelantikan pengprov PRSI DKI Jakarta periode 2013-2017 di Jakarta, Selasa (29/10).

Beberapa negara yang sudah dipastikan mengikuti kejuaraan Piala Betawi antara lain, China, Uzbekistan, Malaysia dan australia. Indonesia yang sudah dua kali menjuarai Piala Betawi kali ini menargetkan untuk bisa menjuarai event rutin pengrov PRSI DKI Jakarta itu.

Ketua umum pengrpov PRSI DKI Jakarta, Rudy Salahudin mengatakan, ajang tersebut juga akan menjadi salah satu sarana membenahi database prestasi atlet DKI Jakarta untuk dikirimkan ke ajang kejuaraan nasional maupun internasional.

"Jadi pola perekrutan atlet untuk masuk Pelatda atau dikirim ke Pengurus Besar untuk masuk Pelatnas nantinya akan melalui data prestasi resmi yang ada di database," tandasnya. (Metrotvnews.com,)

Liga dan Kejurnas U-17: Tim Polo Air Sumbar Berlaga di Bandung

Padang, Padek, POLO AIR -  Tim polo air putra Sumbar diberangkatkan untuk me­ngi­kuti Liga Polo Air putaran II yang akan dilaksanakan 26-30 Agus­tus di Kolam Renang Tirta Lega, Bandung. Selain itu, Sumbar juga mengirimkan tim polo air untuk mengikuti Kejurnas Polo Air Yunior U-17. Pada liga dan kejurnas ini, Sumbar bertekad memberikan hasil maksimal, paling tidak mempertahankan gelar seba­gai runner-up pada putaran I beberapa waktu lalu di Padang. 

”Sebanyak 13 pemain, satu pelatih, satu wasit dan satu orang manajer akan I berang­katkan. Tim ini akan berangkat Jumat malam dengan mele­wati jalur darat membawa dua mobil pribadi,” kata Sekum PRSI Sum­bar, Maidison, ke­ma­rin.

Pemain-pemain yang di ba­wa adalah, M Guntur, San­sino, Afis Alamsyah, Anggi Darma Putra, Diky Anugrah, Azwan Risman, Irvan Ryandi, Edi Da­sra, M.Fikri dan M.Far­han.  ”Tiga orang lainnya yakni, No­vendra Deni, Adek Alfiandri dan Ilfan Riyandi akan me­nyusul karena ketiganya te­ngah me­ngikuti Pelatnas SEA Games.

Sedangkan untuk mengi­kuti Kejurnas U-17, kita memi­liki pemain pas-pasan, yaitu, M Fikri, Farhan, Gilang, Azwan Risma, Adek Alfiandri, San­sino dan M Guntur,” kata Maidison.

Meskipun memiliki keter­batasan dana, tim Sumbar akan berusaha semaksimal mungkin untuk memberikan hasil yang terbaik. ”Kami be­rangkat de­ngan dana yang minim, karena belum ada ban­tuan dari KONI. Kita maklum dengan kondisi KONI seka­rang, mudah-mu­dahan jika mereka sudah ada dana, KONI bisa membantu kita. Agar tetap bisa ikut serta, kami mengupayalan dana sendiri. Mudah-mudahan per­ma­sala­han ini tidak menghambat kita untuk meraih prestasi yang membanggakan,” harapnya.

Sementara, Pelatih polo air Sumbar, Peris AB mengaku terus melakukan persiapan pasca putaran I lalu. Meskipun hanya berlatih diluar kolam, ia mengaku anak asuhnya telah mengalami peningkatan. Ia berharap, semua pemainnya bermain semaksimal mungkin agar bisa meraih prestasi.

”Hingga saat ini kita masih terus menjalani latihan. Sete­lah putaran I lalu, kita tidak bisa latihan di kolam karena puasa. Meskipun demikian, anak-anak mengalami pening­katan di segi kondisi fisiknya. Untuk putaran II ini, kami ha­nya menambah satu pemain saja, yaitu M Far­han,” kata Peris.

Permasalahan yang ada sekarang adalah, pemain akan mengalami kelelahan karena menempuh perjalanan darat. “Kondisi pemain pasti menu­run saat pertandingan nanti. Saya akan minta pemain me­man­faatkan waktu untuk isti­rahat sebaik mungkin sebelum per­tan­dingan. Semua pemain pasti akan berupaya maksimal untuk memenangkan setiap per­tan­dingan,” ujar mantan pelatih timnas. 

(padang ekspres/poloairindonesia.blogspot.com)

FINA World Junior Water Polo Championships

AKUATIK. The 17th FINA World Men's Junior Water Polo Championships 2013 (20 & U) are currently underway in Szombathely (HUN), where the rising talents from the best nations in the sport will face each other from August 12-18. 16 teams from the five continents are taking part in the tournament, divided as follows:

Group A: Italy, Hungary, Canada, Colombia
Group B: Serbia, Brazil, South Africa, Uzbekistan
Group C: Spain, Russia, United States, Slovakia
Group D: Croatia, Australia, Kazakhstan, Japan

So far (day 1 and 2), only defending champion Serbia and Croatia collected two victories out of two games.

On August 19, the 10th FINA World Women's Junior Water Polo Championships 2013 (20 & U) will be organised in Volos (GRE). The participating teams are divided as follows:

Group A: Spain, Greece, Canada
Group B: USA, Italy, Kazakhstan, New Zealand
Group C: Australia, Ukraine, South Africa, Uzbekistan
Group D: Russia, Hungary, Brazil, Great Britain 

ry-reg� ] w s p� H� ngapore (SIN)
November 9-10 Tokyo (JPN)
November 13-14 Beijing (CHN)

Fina World Championship 2013: Serbia going head to head with Montenegro in quarterfinals

AKUATIK INDONESIA, Serbia will face Montenegro in what will be a hotly  contested quarterfinal on Tuesday following the qualification round of  the FINA Men’s Water Polo World Championships at the Bernat Picornell Pool today. Serbia sent Romania packing for home with a 13-5 scoreline and Montenegro defeated Canada 12-4 to set up a tantalising encounter. 

The qualifiers were decisive, unlike the women’s matches the day before where European champion Italy and World League champion China departed the scene.

The other quarterfinals have Greece facing Hungary, Croatia against Australia and Spain playing Italy. Greece started the day’s proceedings with a 13-5 win over South Africa with Alexandros Gounas (GRE) topping the scorers.

Montenegro followed against Canada with Aleksandar Ivovic (MNE) netting three for 13 this championship. Centre forward Nicolas Constantin-Bicari (CAN) finished with eight goals and huge respect.

Olympic champion Croatia repulsed the challenge of New Zealand 21-4. Petar Muslim and Sandro Sukno scored five each for the Europeans. Spain helped United States of America to the airport with a 10-6 margin thanks to Albert Espanol with four goals and Guillermo Molina with three. The championship also saw the last of the talented centre forward John Mann (USA), who scored 10 goals.

Serbia settled for a 13-5 win over Romania with five Serbian players scoring twice and the match’s best Nicolae Diaconu (ROU). Hungary had to come back from 4-2 down at quarter time to send off Kazakhstan 16-7. Five Hungarians scored twice and Sergey Gubarev (KAZ) fired in three. Will this be the last we see of Sydney 2000 Olympic silver medallist Russian goalkeeper Nikolay Maximov (KAZ) at this level? He is 41, after all!

Italy, the London Olympics silver medallist, defeated China 11-3 with Alex Georgetti bagging four goals. Chufeng Zhang and Zhongxing Liang left as China’s best scorers with five each.

In the final match of the day, Australia downed Germany 8-4 with three players scoring twice for the Aussie Sharks. Heiko Nossek, who scored Germany’s first two goals, departs as his team’s leading scorer with 10.

Tuesday quarterfinal programme:

15:30  GRE     v          HUN              
17:00  CRO     v          AUS
20:15  MNE    v          SRB
21:45  ESP     v          ITA

MEDALS TABLE

NF	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
CHN	10	6	2	18
RUS	7	3	2	12
GER	3	2	3	8
USA	3	2	2	7
BRA	1	2	2	5
ITA	1	2	-	3
GRE	1	1	-	2
TUN	1	-	1	2
FRA	1	-	-	1
ESP	-	4	4	8
CAN	-	2	2	4
UKR	-	1	4	5
AUS	-	1	-	1
BEL	-	1	-	1
JPN	-	1	-	1
MEX	-	-	3	3
MAS	-	-	1	1
NED	-	-	1	1
NZL	-	-	1	1
TOTAL	28	28	28	84

Fina World Championship 2013: Champions China and Italy fail to make quarterfinals

AKUATIK INDONESIA, There can only be one winner and even champions have to fall by the wayside some time. This was the case during quarterfinal qualification matches on the fourth day of the FINA Women’s Water Polo World Championships at the Bernat Picornell Pool.

In the final match of the night, European champion Italy bowed out in controversial fashion, losing a penalty shootout 13-12 to world champion Greece.

China, fresh from a heroic World League Super Final victory in Beijing, was toppled by Netherlands, 2008 Olympic champion.In a must-win match for the Dutch women’s water polo programme, the women in orange emerged triumphant 11-10, a three-goal burst by Lieke Klaassen late in the match proving the difference. The hat-trick took her total to 16 for the championship, proving her worth to the team and the programme. A loss today could have had brutal ramifications back home.

In 2009, World League champion Montenegro arrived in Rome as the recently crowned king and also missed the top eight. The Dutch were in raptures, as if they had already won the title, while China struggled with the moment and will now head home to rethink their future.

The last match of the day also saw drama and excitement missing from some other encounters, as was the nature of this year’s championship where the bottom eight fly home halfway through. European champion Italy came from behind to lead in the final stages against Greece but the world champion levelled and forced the match to extra time. Both teams scored in the first period but not in the second. Italy missed three shots and Greece scored three for the victory.

The controversial part was where Roberta Bianconi failed to shot when the whistle sounded for the final shot, gifting the match to Greece.

Other matches went to form with Russia dispatching South Africa 22-3, Australia downing Uzbekistan 25-2, Spain bundling out New Zealand 18-6, Olympic champion United States of America beat Brazil 14-3, Canada defeated Kazakhstan 14-8 and Hungary had the better of Great Britain 14-5.

Most interest on Monday in quarterfinals, probably focuses on the clash between Olympic finalists USA and Spain.

Monday programme:

15:30 RUS vs CAN
17:00 AUS vs GRE
20:15 NED vs HUN
21:45 ESP vs USA 

MEDALS TABLE

NF	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
CHN	8	6	2	16
RUS	7	3	1	11
GER	3	2	2	7
BRA	1	2	2	5
ITA	1	2	-	3
GRE	1	1	-	2
TUN	1	-	1	2
USA	1	-	1	1
ESP	-	3	4	7
CAN	-	2	2	4
UKR	-	1	4	5
BEL	-	1	-	1
MEX	-	-	3	3
MAS	-	-	1	1
TOTAL	23	23	23	69