The national women’s water polo team got South Africa’s campaign at the World Aquatics Championships underway in Singapore on Friday.
A team of 65 athletes will compete across five different disciplines – water polo, open water swimming, artistic swimming, diving and swimming – over the next three weeks, with the championships set to conclude on 3 August.
The SA women, ranked 18th in the world, faced a tough prospect, taking on the world’s top-ranked team, Spain, in their opener, going down 24-3. They’ll next face Great Britain on Sunday with a final pool game against France next Tuesday before the crossover matches begin.
The SA men, ranked 25th in the world, play their first match against Serbia tomorrow. They’ll then take on Romania on Monday before facing Italy next Wednesday.
“It’s very tough,” said SA women’s player Boati Motau in reference to taking on fulltime, professional teams. “But I also think it’s an honour to be able to play the best of the best in the world.
“You know once you step onto that stage what it takes to play those types of teams… It’s such a big step up from playing locally in South Africa and I think being mentally prepared to face such tough opponents is really crucial.
“South Africans in our nature are very competitive… I think that’s what carries us a lot when we are going to the World Championships, and how we don’t give up.”
'COMPETITIVE'
SA men’s player Manqoba Bungane said his team were looking to gain experience as they head towards the next Olympic Games in 2028.
“The goal is, I believe, for us to start making that transition process in SA water polo where we’ve just had a slightly older group come through and weening out now and we are getting the youth in,” he said. “We are trying to build ourselves into a competitive side for the likes of the LA Olympic Games.”
Others in action next week will be the country’s open water swimmers. Among them is Matthew Caldwell, who, along with Catherine van Rensburg, will also be doubling up by also competing in the pool.
Asked which he prefers between the two disciplines. Caldwell reckoned: “It’s hard to say – I love them both. I love the racing so they both have my heart. It’s really hard to choose between the two.”
As for what he’s targeting at the Championships, where he’ll be competing in the 3km, 5km and 1500m relay events in the open water competition and the 400m freestyle in the pool, the Johannesburg swimmer added, “I’ve got quite a few goals in Singapore. In the open water I’ve got my 3km knockout, I’m going to try and get to the final round if that’s possible, that will be very cool. And in the pool, I just want to race, hopefully get a good time and just really show who I am.”
The diving competition will get underway on 26 July with three South Africans set to compete across the 1m, 3m and 3m synchro events.
And a team of 10 South Africans will be put to the test in the artistic swimming competition from next Friday.
Swimming will be the last discipline to get underway on 27 July.
World Aquatics Championships schedule:
Water Polo: 11-24 July
Open water swimming: 15-20 July
Artistic swimming: 18-25 July
Diving: 26 July – 3 August
Swimming: 27 July – 3 August
SA team at the World Aquatics Championships:
Water Polo – women
Boati Motau, Esihle Zondo, Chloe Meecham, Georgia Eccles, Hannah Weppelman, Hannah Banks, Jo Williams, Kyla Moolman, Mia Lozides, Lucy Davis, Shakira January, Tumaini Macdonnell, Tia Caswell, Skye Murray
Water polo – men
Carl Germishuys, Calvin Kuperus, Dylan Watt, Dean Sneddon, Luka Rajak, Kelly Geldenhuys, Matthew Bowers, Manqoba Bungane, Matthew Neser, Ryan Sneddon, Tristan Grimett, Matthew Smith, Nathan Ward, Brett Sneddon
Open water swimming
Ruan Breytenbach, Matthew Caldwell, Kellen Jones, Catherine van Rensburg, Callan Lötter, Connor Buck, Amica de Jager
Artistic swimming
Tori Buitendag, Aurella Pretorius, Aneesha Lindoor, Sarah Williams, Rebecca Schenk, Xera Vegter Maharajah, Casey Williams, Chloe Dundas Starr, Tayla van Huyssteen, Leah Howell
Diving
Bailey Heydra, Grace Brammer, Zalika Methula
Swimming
Aimee Canny, Rebecca Meder, Erin Gallagher, Kaylene Corbett, Caitlin de Lange, Catherine van Rensburg, Chris Smith, Matthew Caldwell, Matthew Sates, Michael Houlie, Pieter Coetzé, Olivia Nel, Georgia Nel, Hannah Robertson
© Swimming South Africa