WORLD LEAGUE: Super Final 2012 (Women): Australia, Greece, Russia and USA make good start in game opener

China vs USA

Zhou Xin, FINA Press Correspondent in China

CHINA, Changshu (May 29) - The ninth edition of the FINA Women's Water Polo World League Super Final successfully kicked off in Changshu (CHN) where eight world-class women's water polo teams will fight for the podium during an exciting six days. In the preliminary games of Group A and B, defending champion USA eclipsed host China 10-6, world champion Greece comfortably edged Germany 16-11, world number 3 Russia had a solid win over Italy 16-3 and 2011 World League bronze-medallist Australia crushed Canada 20-4. 

Game 1, RUSSIA 16 - ITALY 3
(7-3, 3-1, 2-0, 4-1)

Russia dominated the match from the very beginning, putting constant pressure on the Italian squad, whose biggest assets are missing. Russia scored first after 34 seconds in the first quarter. Though Italy tied 1:1 less than one minute later, Tankeeva (RUS) quickly caught up, scoring a day-high five goals with teammates Fedotova and Belova adding four and three goals each, respectively, for a clean win.

Game 2, USA 10 - CHINA 6
(3-3, 0-2, 4-1, 3-0)

Despite a slow start, six-time World League champions USA came from behind to beat world runner-up China 10-6. The host squad had the edge in the first half of the game with a safe 5-3 lead. Soon the Americans strengthened their defence and narrowed the gap in the last two quarters for a decisive win.

"It is always very hard to play the first game, in any meet. Our players were very nervous at the beginning, but as soon as they settled down, they played much better," said U.S. head coach Adam Krikorian.

For China's head coach Juan Jane Giralt, his players made too many mistakes in the second half: "We only performed well for the first two quarters, then we were in a mess, especially in the defence. I don't think it is a problem of strength. It is a problem of the way of thinking and playing ball game."

Game 3, GREECE 16 - GERMANY 11
(4-3, 4-3, 5-2, 3-3)

The German squad did not let it go until the final whistle in what was a hard-fought game against the reigning world champions, Greece. In the fourth quarter, Christina Chrysoula Tsoukala, Loanna Charalampdi and captain Alexandra Asimaki scored one goal each, sealing Greece's victory.

Game 4, AUSTRALIA 20 - CANADA 4
(7-3, 4-0, 5-1, 4-0)

Canada sent a young team to attend the Super Final and suffered many blocks from the experienced Australians. In the last quarter, Australia's team captain Kate Gynther led Gemma Sophie, Rowena Webster and Nicola Zapame to score one goal each while Rowena Webster gave her team the last shot 27 seconds before the end. Monika Eggens scored twice for Canada in the first and third quarter while teammate Sophie Baron added one in the first quarter. (fina)

SEA SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012

HASIL

1ST SOUTH-EAST ASIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2012
SINGAPORE, 28 May - 1 June 2012
Toa Payoh Swimming Complex

28 May 2012 (Monday)

Women: Philippines-Indonesia= 1-17, Thailand-Malaysia = 16-9

Men: Thailand-Singapore = 2-11

29 May 2012 (Tuesday)

Women: Indonesia-Malaysia = 1-0, Philipines-Singapore=1-15

Men: Indonesia-Malaysia=17-5

30 May 2012 (Wednesday

Women: Indonesia-Thailand=13-8, Malaysia-Singapore= 1-17

Men: Thailand-Malaysia-11-9

31 May 2012 (Thursday)

Women: Malaysia-Philippines:3-5, Singapore-ThailandL15-3

Men: Thailand-Indonesia:7-7, Malaysia-Singapore: 15-4

1 June 2012 (Friday)

Women: Thailand-Philippines:9-5, Singapore-Indonesia:5-3

Men: Indonesia-Singapore: 6-7

Final eight in battle for top honours in Changshu (CHN)

Lausanne (SUI), POLOAIR INDONESIA (May 25, 2012) – The national teams of Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia and USA are gearing up for the Super Final of the 9th FINA Women’s Water Polo World League organised in Changshu (China) from May 29 to June 3. The teams will be divided in two groups as follows:

Group A: China, Germany, Greece, USA
Group B: Australia, Canada, Italy, Russia

USA, a six-time World League winner and current Olympic silver-medallist, is the team to beat in China. The defending champions will seek to add another title to their already incredible roll of honour. Except in 2005, they climbed the podium at all World League editions.

Reigning world champion Greece, whose squad won the World League in 2005, is a strong medal contender. The Chinese team, whose progress in the discipline has been terrific in the recent years, created a sensation by taking second at the last World Championships in Shanghai, their best result so far.

Traditional water polo powerhouses Australia, Canada, Italy and Russia are also close challengers in the Super Final race. Italy finished second at the last World League while the Australians are bronze medallists from both the 2011 World League and the Beijing Olympics.

The overall winner will receive US$50'000 in prize money and a total US$272'500 will be divided among the 15 participating teams.

MEDALLISTS of the FINA Women’s World League

2004: 1. USA, 2. HUN, 3. ITA
2005: 1. GRE, 2. RUS, 3. AUS
2006: 1. USA, 2. ITA, 3. RUS
2007: 1. USA, 2. AUS, 3. GRE
2008: 1. RUS, 2. USA, 3. AUS
2009: 1. USA, 2. CAN, 3. AUS
2010: 1. USA, 2. AUS, 3. GRE
2011: 1. USA, 2. ITA, 3. AUS

PROGRAMME of the FINA Women’s World League 2012:

Tuesday, May 29: ITA-RUS, USA-CHN, GER-GRE, CAN-AUS
Wednesday, May 30: USA-GRE, GER-CHN, ITA-AUS, CAN-RUS
Thursday, May 31: ITA-CAN, GRE-CHN, GER-USA, RUS-AUS
Friday, June 1: 2A-3B; 3A-2B; 1A-4B; 4A-1B
Saturday, June 2: Semi-finals 5-8 (2 games); Semi-finals 1-4 (2 games)
Sunday, June 3: Games for places 7-8, 5-6, 3-4 and 1-2

(fina)

LONDON 2012 WATER POLO: USA Water Polo announces Olympic women's team

POLOAIR INDONESIA- Adam Krikorian, Head Coach for the U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team, announced the 13 athletes that will compete at the 2012 Olympic Games this summer in London, England at a press conference at the LA84 Foundation in Los Angeles, CA. Featuring seven returners from the 2008 team that won the silver medal, and eight athletes overall with Olympic Games experience, the team clinched a berth to the 2012 Olympic Games by winning gold at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Led by Team Captain Brenda Villa (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club) the U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team is one of the most successful programs in international water polo history over the last twelve years. The only nation to win an Olympic medal at every Olympic Games offering women's water polo, a tally that includes two silver medals (2000 and 2008) and a bronze (2004), the program has also won three World Championships and one World Cup title during that span.

Villa is joined on the team by Heather Petri (Orinda, CA/California/NYAC); both will be the first U.S. women to compete in four Olympic Games in water polo.

2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team (Hometown/College/Club)
1. Betsey Armstrong - Goalkeeper (Ann Arbor, MI/Michigan/NYAC)*
2. Heather Petri - Attacker (Orinda, CA/California/NYAC)#%*
3. Melissa Seidemann - Defender (Walnut Creek, CA/Stanford/Stanford)
4. Brenda Villa - Attacker (Commerce, CA/Stanford/Olympic Club)#%*
5. Lauren Wenger - All-Around (Long Beach, CA/USC/NYAC)*
6. Maggie Steffens - Defender (Danville, CA/Stanford/Diablo)
7. Courtney Mathewson - Attacker (Anaheim Hills, CA/UCLA/NYAC)
8. Jessica Steffens - Defender (Danville, CA/Stanford/NYAC)*
9. Elsie Windes - Defender (Portland, OR/California/Tualatin Hills WP)*
10. Kelly Rulon - Attacker (San Diego, CA/UCLA/NYAC)%
11. Annika Dries - Center (Laguna Beach, CA/Stanford/SET)
12. Kami Craig - Center (Santa Barbara, CA/USC/Santa Barbara WPF)*
13. Tumua Anae - Goalkeeper (Newport Beach, CA/USC/SOCAL)

#2000 Olympian
%2004 Olympian
*2008 Olympian

 The U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team will open competition at the 2012 Olympic Games against Hungary on July 30. That is followed by a match against Spain on August 1, and China on August 3, to close out preliminary play in Group A. The quarterfinals are set for August 5, followed by the semifinals on August 7, and the medal round on August 9.

(USA Water Polo Press Release)

Water Polo: Winner Spain, Italy, Russia and Hungary meet Olympic target

Lausanne (SUI), MAJALAH AKUATIK INDONESIA – Spain, Italy, Russia and Hungary are the four teams to earn their precious spot for the 2012 London Olympic Games following their classification at the Women’s Water Polo Olympic Games Qualification Tournament organised in Trieste (ITA) from April 15-22.  
Hungary and the Netherlands finished on top of their respective group – A and B – following the Preliminary Round from April 15-19. In the all-important quarter finals, which decided the Olympic qualifiers, on April 20, Hungary crushed Kazakhstan 18-5, Russia had a close win over Canada (7-6), Spain defeated Greece 9-7 and the Netherlands were beaten by the home squad, Italy, in a tight 7-6.
The semi finals, on April 21, saw World number 1 Greece defeating the Kazakhs 21-9, the Olympic champion Dutch squad overtaking their Canadian opponent (16-13), the Spaniards holding at bay close challenger Hungary (10-8) and the local team proving too strong for the Russians (14-13).   
In the final showdown, on April 22, powerful Spain beat home Italy in a gruelling 9-5, for a first-place finish in the tournament. The struggle for the minor medal played out between Hungary and Russia, with the latter eventually prevailing 18-13. The Netherlands ousted Greece (11-10) to take fifth in the competition while Canada concluded on a high note with a 17-2 victory over Kazakhstan, settling for seventh. Brazil closed the rankings in ninth position.   
Spain, Italy, Russia and Hungary will join Great Britain, Australia, the United States and China in the fight for top honours at the Olympic Games Water Polo Tournament in London this summer.
The draw for the Olympic Tournament will be held on May 5, 2012 in London (GBR).

(fina)

Final eight decided after Europe and Americas prelims

Lausanne (SUI), POLOAIR - The preliminary stage of the FINA Water Polo World League 2012 wrapped up on May 13 with the last rounds held in Tustin (USA) for men and Siracusa (ITA) and Volos (GRE) for women, qualifying the remaining teams for both Super Finals.

In the women’s European preliminaries, Germany and Italy finished 1-2 in Group A with a respective total of 11 and ten points while Russia and Greece, 15 points each, easily secured the two Super Final tickets at stake in Group B.

The eight national teams qualified for the ninth edition of the women’s Super Final in Changshu (CHN), organised from May 29 to June 3, are: Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia and defending champion USA.

Among men, the last two teams in the Super Final race were settled in Tustin (USA) with USA and Brazil securing the precious spot. USA topped the rankings with 12 points, and Brazil followed with six points.

Brazil and USA will join the national squads of Australia, China, Croatia, Italy, Kazakhstan (as host) and Spain for the 12th Super Final to take place in Almaty (KAZ) from June 12-17.

Final rankings Europe (women):
Group A: GER, 11 pts (4 wins, 2 losses); 2. ITA, 10 (3W, 3L); 3. HUN, 10 (3W, 3L); 4. ESP, 5 (2W, 4L)
Group B: 1. RUS, 15 pts (5 wins, 1 loss); 2. GRE, 15 (5W, 1L); 3. NED, 6 (2W, 4L); 4. GBR, 0 (6L)

Final rankings Americas (men):
1. USA, 12 pts (4 wins); 2. BRA, 6 (2W, 2L); 3. CAN, 0 (4L

(fina)