Simone Manuel of the United States won the women’s 100 m freestyle event in the 17th World Aquatics Championships in Budapest on Friday. Evgeny Rylov of Russia won the men’s 200 m backstroke event. Britain won the men’s 4×200 m freestyle relay event. Anton Chupkov of Russia won the men’s 200 m breaststroke event. Yuliya Efimova of Russia won the women’s 200 m breaststroke event in in Budapest. At the 17th FINA World Championship the water polo olympic bronze medallist Russia beat Canada by two goals in the bronze match of the tournament. The high diving events start today at the Battyhűny Square.
Russia got beaten by the United States, just as Canada got beaten by Spain in the semi-finals of the 17th FINA World Championship, but both teams will surely reach better results than in Kazan. Two years ago Russia finished 8th, Canada finished 11th. They have made great progress.
Photo: MTIPhoto: MTI
Canada got two medals this year, they reached up to the second place at this year’s World League interestengly by beating Russia in the semi-final. It was a spectacular game as the team turned the game around with the score of 4-0 in the last quarter.
Canada had a better start now, they were leading by two goals 4 minutes after the beginning thanks to McKelvey’s and Bekhazi’s goals, but Russia didn’t give up, the score was 3-3 by the end of the first quarter.
In the second part Olympic bronze medallist Russia took the initiative and they were leading constantly by one goal which settled to be two afterwards. Five and half minutes before the end Canada closed up to 9-8 but after a Borisova-shot was considered to be a goal the score turned out to be 10-8.
Canada couldn’t break through in the end, Rzyhkova settled the final result of the match fifteen second before the end, therefore Russia became the bronze medallist of the tournament.
Hungary’s women’s water polo team beat Italy at Hajos Alfred Swimming Complex thus host team finished on 5th place in the 17th FINA World Championships, fina-budapest2017.com said.
Italy: Gorlero – Garibotti 3, Queirolo 1, Radicchi, Aiello, Bianconi 4, Emmolo. Subs: Tabani, Picozzi, Cotti, Dario. Head coach: Fabio Conti
Hungary: Gangl – Czigány 2, Csabai 1, Szücs, Keszthelyi 3, Szilágyi 2, Bujka. Subs: Antal 1, Gurisatti 1, Illés, Tóth. Head coach: Attila Bíró
Disappointment belongs to the past, both the Hungarian and the Italian team managed to win after losing their quarter final. Italy and Hungary faced off each other at the closing day’s second match in the hope of a better result, namely the 5th place.
Dóra Czigány took the lead for Hungary, this was equalised by Roberta Bianconi, the leader of the goal scorers’ list. The venue was almost full, about seven thousand people watched the clash of the two teams, probably a record for a qualification match.
Orsolya Takács and Rosaria Aiello , photo: MTI
The participants met each other many times in the past few years, for instance, the Hungarian national team managed to win against Italy in this year’s World League qualifying rounds. We may well mention last year’s European Championship semi-final, won by this year’s hosts. All in all, the latest memories suggested to us the victory of Attila Bíró’s team.
Dóra Szilágyi and Dóra Antal managed to show their presence to the Italian goalkeeper, Gorlero, in the middle of the first half. The Hungarians went ahead with the score of 3-1 but due to Bianconi’s hit, the difference was one goal by the end of the first part.
Rita Keszthelyi started by scoring a goal in the second quarter, Garibotti gave an answer five minutes before the middle break. The Hungarians struggled with making use of the situations in the centre in the first part of the game. Cross shots worked, of course, as Keszthelyi proved it, there was a two goal difference again.
Italy could only get closer, but the Hungarians usually responded (4-6). Keszthelyi tried a spinning shot but it only hit the bar of the goal.
The second half started with a Szilágyi-goal, but by the end of the third quarter, the Hungarian advance decreased to one goal due to Garibotti’s successful shot. Attila Bíró asked for a timeout. It was worth it, Keszthelyi completed the attack, the Hungarians lead 8-6 by the end of the third part.
Dóra Csabai grew the lead to three goals five and half minutes before the end, the Hungarians kept control of the game. Even with two exclusions, the hosts managed to defend against the Italians’ offensive.
Photo: MTI
In the end, they succeeded in winning the match, the Hungarian national women’s water polo team finished 5th.
Attila Bíró, head coach (HUN):
„We suceeded in making the end more beautiful for the team but we still have the memories of the Canadaian match. These games showed us the potential and the eloquence of the team. It was difficult to live all that happened, both for the girls and for the staff. I was a bit broken in the past few days. It was difficult to recognise all that happened but I’m proud of the girls, that they stood up and won the last two matches. We chose tougher tactics for today, that’s why we got the exclusions. Finishing 5th is a disappointment. With this game we could beat everybody except for the United States. It seems the team’s not ready to perform in an outstanding way for six-seven games following each other. But it’s important to emphasise: except for the US, nobody’s capable to do so.
Australia: Yanitsas – Gofers 1, Buckling 1, Halligan, Bishop 1, Ridge, Webster 1. Subs: Zimmerman, Arancini, Mihailovic, Baxter 1, Steere 1. Head coach: Athansios Kechagas
Greece: C. Diamanthopoulou – Tsoukala 3, V. Diamanthopoulou 2, Avramidou 1, Asimaki, Manolioudaki, E. Plevritou. Subs: Eleftheriadou, M. Plevritou, Chydirioti, Kotsia 1, Xenaki 1. Head coach: Georgios Morfesis
One of the matches of the group rounds was repeated as today’s encounter for the 7th place. At that time the Greeks won 11-8, and they ended up on the more succesful side today too, especially due to the four goals they scored in the second quarter.
Chase Kalisz of the United States won the men’s 200 m medley event in the 17th World Aquatics Championships in Budapest on Thursday. Caeleb Dressel of the United States won the men’s 100 m freestyle event. Etiene Medeiros of Brazil won the women’s 50 m backstroke event. Mireia Belmonte of Spain won the women’s 200 m butterfly event, Katinka Hosszú took the 3rd place. The United States won the women’s 4×200 m freestyle relay event in Duna Arena. The first quarterfinal of men’s water polo tournament started really tense and was extremely exciting until the third quarter, but in the end, Hungary was able to come away with the win, which means they will play a world championship final on their home field.
Kalisz wins men’s 200 m medley
Results:
1. Chase Kalisz (USA) 1:55.56 min
2. Kosuke Hagino (JPN) 1:56.01
3. Shun Wang (CHN) 1:56.28
Dressel wins men’s 100 m freestyle
Results:
1. Caeleb Remel Dressel (USA) 47.17 sec
2. Nathan Adrian (USA) 47.87
3. Mehdy Metella (FRA) 47.89
Photo: MTI
Medeiros wins women’s 50 m backstroke
Results:
1. Etiene Medeiros (BRA) 27.14 sec
2. Yuanhui Fu (CHN) 27.15
3. Aliaksandra Herasimenia (BLR) 27.23
Belmonte wins women’s 200 m butterfly
Results:
1. Mireia Belmonte (ESP) 2:05.26 min
2. Franziska Hentke (GER) 2:05.39
3. Katinka Hosszú (HUN) 2:06.02
Photo: MTIKatinka Hosszú, photo: MTI
United States wins women’s 4×200 m freestyle relay
Results:
1. United States 7:43.39 min
2. China 7:44.91
3. Australia 7:48.51
Men’s water polo
Semifinals
Greece-Hungary 5-7 (1-2, 3-3, 0-1, 1-1)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Naumov (orosz), Buch (spanyol)
Görögország: Flegkas – Genidouinas 3, Fountoulis 2, Argyropoulos, Kolomvos, Gounas, Vlachopoulos. Subs: Delakas, Dervisis, Kapotsis, Pontikeas, Mourikis. Head coach: Theodoros Vlachos
Magyarország: Nagy V. – Vámos 2, Hosnyánszky 2, Erdélyi 1, Gór-Nagy 1, Varga Dénes, Hárai 1. Subs: Török, Manhercz, Zalánki, Decker Á., Mezei. Head coach: Tamás Märcz
Greece scored the first goal of the game, but Hungary equalized immediately with a goal from Balázs Erdélyi. Both teams played well on defense in the first quarter, but Hungary was able to take the lead with a wonderful backhanded goal from Hosnyánszky, which might as well be the goal of the tournament.
A wonderful backhanded goal from Hosnyánszky (HUN)
Greece started the second quarter better with goals from top scorer Fountoulis and Genidounias, who scored three of the four first half goals from Greece. Hungary was down by one but eventually won the first half 5-4 with a goal by Hárai when there was only five seconds on the clock.
There was only one goal in the third period, Márton Vámos was on fire after his big shot. Greece hit the post a couple of times so they were a bit unlucky this time. Hosnyanszky increased Hungary’s lead to 3 goals in the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Viktor Nagy made some spectacular saves in the second half and there were a couple of big field blocks as well, so Hungary defensed extremely well, they didn’t concede a single goal in the second half until the last second.
So Hungary won 7-5 and they will have a chance for the gold medal against Croatia and they will have the home field advantage on Saturday.
The United States won the mixed 4×100 m medley relay event with a world record of 3:38.56 minutes in the 17th World Aquatics Championships in Budapest on Wednesday. Gabriele Detti of Italy won the men’s 800 m freestyle event. Adam Peaty of Britain won the men’s 50 m breaststroke event. Chad le Clos of the Republic of South Africa won the men’s 200 m butterfly, László Cseh took second place. Federica Pellegrini of Italy won the women’s 200 m freestyle event in the 17th World Aquatics Championships in Budapest on Wednesday.
US wins mixed 4×100 m medley relay with world record
Results:
1. United States 3:38.56 minutes
2. Australia 3:41.21
3. Canada 3:41.25
China 3:41.25
Photo: MTI
Detti wins men’s 800 m freestyle
Results:
1. Gabriele Detti (ITA) 7:40.77 min
2. Wojciech Wojdak (POL) 7:41.73
3. Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA) 7:42.44
Gabriele Detti, photo: MTI
Peaty wins men’s 50 m breaststroke
Results:
1. Adam Peaty (GBR) 25.99 sec
2. Joao Gomes Junior (BRA) 26.52
3. Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) 26.60
Photo: MTI
Chad le Clos wins men’s 200 m butterfly
Results:
1. Chad le Clos (RSA) 1:53.33 min
2. László Cseh (HUN) 1:53.72
3. Daiya Seto (JPN) 1:54.21
4. Tamás Kenderesi
Photo: MTIChad le Clos (RSA), photo: MTITamás Kenderesi (HUN), photo: MTILászló Cseh (HUN), photo: MTI
Pellegrini wins women’s 200 m freestyle
Results:
1. Federica Pellegrini (ITA) 1:54.73 min
2. Katie Ledecky (USA) 1:55.18
Emma McKeon (AUS) 1:55.18
Federica Pellegrini, photo: MTI
Women’s water polo
In the women’s water polo tournament of the 17th FINA Worlds Championships placement matches and two semi-finals are held on Wednesday. France and the Netherlands won the first two placement matches for the 11th and for the 9th place. Italy played a very exciting game against Australia, which went on penalty shoot-out. Hungary defeats Greece, more details:
For 11th place
New Zealand – France 7-9 (1-0, 2-2, 1-5, 3-2)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Garibaldi (ARG) Kajiwara (JPN).
New Zealand: Milicich – Mason 2, Lopes da Silva 2, Stoneman, Bowry, Hudson 1, Pye 1. Subs: Lewis, Ferigo, Boyd, Doyle, Houghton1. Head coach: Angela Winstanley-Smith.
France: Counil – Millot 1, Bachelier 1, Guillet 2, Mahieu, Valverde 2, Daule 2. Subs: Ad.Sacre, Battu, Barbieux, Au Sacre 1. Head coach: Florian Bruzzo.
Photos: Máté Balogh/Bp2017
Two relatively disappointed teams, who have been defeated in the last games, met today to figh for the 11th place. They were only ‘relatively’ disappointed because it has been a success for both teams that they could manage to be among the 12 best teams and could play against the best ones of the world. It has been 19 years for the team of New Zealand and more than 20 years for the French team since they achieved such a good placement at the World Championships.
At today’s game, the New Zealand team started off better and were in the lead thanks to Lopes de Silva. In the first quarter there were not much scores, the teams payed more attention to their defense. In the second quarter, the team of New Zealand was also quick to score, but the French equalized within a few minutes. However, at the end of the second quarter, Counil, the excelent French goal keeper, seemed to drift a little bit off, which was used by Kelly Marson well, and at the end of the quarter the New Zealand team was in the lead again.
After the break however, there was a huge turn of events and the French team has taken the lead. The pool became a real battle field at the end of the last quarter, but the French team kept their advantage, winning the 11th placement.
For the 9th place
Netherlands-China 14-7 (2-2, 5-2, 2-1, 5-2)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Florestano (BRA), Willis (RSA).
Netherlands: Aarts – Smit, D. Genee, A. Geene, Stomphorst 3, Sevenich 1, Megens 3. Subs: Van der Sloot, Nijhuis 4, Koolhaas, Klaassen 2, Joustra 1. Head coach: Arno Havenga.
China: Peng – Bi 1, Niu 2, Guo, Zhang C. 2, Zhao 2, Chen. Subs: Nong, Mei, Xiong, Zhang D., Zhang J., Shen. Head coach: Gong Dali.
China scored the first goal and the Dutch offense was successful only after more than five minutes. The European team equalised again at the very end of the first quarter by the second goal of Lieke Klaassen. Nijhuis’ goal meant the lead for the Dutch ladies for the first time during the match (4-3), and the vice European champion built a three-goal advantege. The Chinese team ’woke up’ and tried to get closer to its opponent for the second break, but after missing a clear goal-opportunity, the Netherlands could shoot a penalty, Megens was successful, holding the comfortable lead for her team (7-4).
The Dutch team played the better water polo on this placement match, and the difference could be even bigger after the third period. Marloes Nijhuis scored twice in the final quarter, which decided the game and the Netherlands took the 9th position in tournament with a well-deserved victory.
The match began with fast goals on both sides, then Bianconi scored her second from penalty. Australia seemed weak in defense, Italy scored five times within the first 300 seconds, Bianconi was the queen of Italians with four goals. Girls ’down under’ made the match more exciting, and the difference was only one goal after the second period (7-6).
Italy had a ’long sleep’, Australia took the lead with the goal of team captain Webster in the third minute of the third quarter. Italy equalised at the beginning of the final period, and the teams had a big fight to collect the victory. The first ace was Hannah Buckling from the Aussies, then Italy missed a man-up situation, but then scored from another extraman-shot by Roberta Bianconi (10-10). The European team took the lead again from penalty 100 seconds before the end of regular playing time. Australia missed a 2-meter shot in the last minute, but equalised from man-up by Halligan 4 seconds before the end (11-11), and the match went on penalty shoot-out.
Rosaria Aiello (ITA) and Keesja Gofers (AUS), photo: MTI
Bianconi scored, Webster missed in the first round. Garibotti made it 2-0, and Bishop scored first for Australia in the shoot-out. Emmolo hit the bar, then Arancini equalised (2-2). Queirolo’s shot was saved by Yanitsas, Halligan scored, Australia led, but Picozzi made it 3-3. Buckling could decidet he match but Lavi saved for her team. Player of the match, Bianconi scored, just like Webster (4-4), the drama continued. Garibotti scored in the seventh round, Bishop was calm enough again. Emmolo made it 6-5, Arancini equalised. Queirolo took the lead again for Italy, then Halligan was unable to even shoot, which meant an Italian victory. The European team can play for the 5th place on Friday, with Hungary.
For the 5-8th place
Hungary-Greece 10-9 (2-4, 1-2, 5-0, 2-3)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Franulovic (CRO), Mercier (FRA)
Hungary: Kasó – Czigány, Szücs 1, Keszthelyi 3, Bujka 2, Csabai, Szilágyi 2. Subs.: Gangl (kapus), Antal, Gurisatti 1, Takács 2, Illés, Tóth I. Head coach: Bíró Attila
Greece: Diamantopoulou – Tsoukala 3, Diamantopoulou, Avramidou 1, Asimaki 1, Manloioudaki 1, E. Plevritou 1. Subs.: Eleftheriadou, M. Plevritou, Chydirioti, Kotsia. Xenaki 1. Head coach: Georgios Morfesis
Hungarian women’s polo team, photo: MTI
The loss againts Canada was a huge disappointment for the host team and Hungary started this placement game really slowly as the score at half time was 3-6 for Greece. Attila Bíró, the head coach for Hungary made a key change before the end of first half as Gangl took the place of Kasó as the goalkeeper. This decision turned out to be crucial.
Barbara Bujka (HUN), photo: MTI
Hungary stepped up their game on defense and scored some nice goals as well, they won the third quarter 5-0 and turned this game upside down. Hungary lead by three at one point in the beginning of the fourth quarter and their lead was enough until the end and won 10-9 in a really exciting game. On Friday, they will play against Italy for fifth place.
The Hungarian men’s national team are through to the last four of the 2017 World Championship after they put in a masterful performance to outclass Russia 14-5. Tamás Märcz’s water polo team now face Greece in the semi-finals on Thursday. Lilly King of the United States won the women’s 100-metre breaststroke event with a new world record of 1:04.13. Jiayu Xu of China won the men’s 100-metre backstroke event. Kylie Jacqueline Masse of Canada won the women’s 100-metre backstroke event with a new world record of 58.10 seconds in Budapest. Adam Peaty of Great Britain set a new world record in men’s 50-metre breaststroke. Katie Ledecky of the United States won the women’s 1,500-metre freestyle event. Yang Sun of China won the men’s 200-metre freestyle event in the 17th World Aquatics Championships in Budapest.
Lilly King wins women’s 100 m breaststroke with world record
Results:
1. Lilly King (USA) 1:04.13
2. Katie Meili (USA) 1:05.03
3. Yuliya Efimova (RUS) 1:05.05
Photo: MTIKatie Meili (USA and Lilly King (USA)
Jiayu Xu wins men’s 100 m backstroke
Results:
1. Jiayu Xu (CHN) 52.44 sec
2. Matt Grevers (USA) 52.48
3. Ryan Murphy (USA) 52.59
Photo: MTI
Masse wins women’s 100 m backstroke with world record
Results:
1. Kylie Jacqueline Masse (CAN) 58.10 sec
2. Kathleen Baker (USA) 58.58
3. Emily Seebohm (AUS) 58.59
Kylie Jacqueline Masse (CAN), photo: MTI
Peaty sets second world record in men’s 50 m breaststroke in 9 hours
Adam Peaty of Great Britain set a new world record in men’s 50-metre breaststroke by clocking 25.95 seconds in a semifinal heat in the 17th World Aquatics Championships in Budapest on Wednesday.
Peaty broke his own world record of 26.10 seconds clocked this morning.
Adam Peaty of Great Britain set a new world record in men’s 50-metre breaststroke, photo: MTI
Ledecky wins women’s 1,500 m freestyle
Results:
1. Katie Ledecky (USA) 15:31.82 min
2. Mireia Belmonte (ESP) 15:50.89
3. Simona Quadarella (ITA) 15:53.86
4. Boglárka Kapás (HUN)
Photo: MTIBoglárka Kapás (HUN), photo: MTI
Yang Sun wins men’s 200 m freestyle
Results:
1. Yang Sun (CHN) 1:44.39
2. Townley Haas (USA) 1:45.04
3. Aleksandr Krasnykh (RUS) 1:45.23
Photo: MTI
Men’s water polo – quarterfinals
The qualification matches took place in the morning, with the following results:
For the 15th place:
Canada – South Africa 9-6 (1-2, 4-1, 2-1, 2-2)
For the 13th place
France – United States 8-10 (1-0, 2-3, 3-4, 2-3)
For the 9th-12th places
Brazil -Japan 7-9 (1-3, 3-4, 1-1, 2-1)
Kazakhstan – Spain 6-18 (0-4, 1-5, 1-3, 4-6)
Montenegro got to the quarter finals directly by winning its group. Even point saving against Canada went easily for the team. The Greeks had a much more difficult task getting into the quarter final. This training has proved to be useful.
Greece beat Spain 8-7, went down against Serbia 11-6, and they succesfully faced off Japan 14-4.
The olympic bronze medallist national team started the quarter final better. Gounas made Greece lead the game by the middle of the quarter by scoring the only goal of the first part. Angelos Vlachopoulos increased their lead, soon followed by the tricky action of Georgios Dervisis, 0-3.
After the score of 4-1, Sasa Misic scored for Montenegro, but the Greeks have proved to be much better at shooting on target, they increased their lead to five goals. Aeskasandar Radovic succesfully hit through the wall, being fuelled by anger (2-6), but the European Championship’s silver medallist couldn’t get any closer until the break.
The disappointment of the players of Montenegro may have intensified in the third quarter as after the score of 3-0, the Greeks’ lead grew up to the score of 9-2, mostly due to Ioannis Fountoulis’s incredible gameplay.
By the beginning of the fourth quarter, Montenegro faced the seven goal advance of Greece, something they couldn’t handle. The team didn’t succeed in turning the match around.
Greece got through to the semi finals!
Serbia-Australia 15-5 (4-1, 4-2, 4-2, 3-0)
Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Naumov (RUS), Ohme (GER)
Serbia: B. Mitrovic – V. Rasovic 1, M. Cuk 2, D. Pijetlovic 2, Aleksic 1, Filipovic 3, Prlainovic 2. Subs.: G. Pijetlovic (kapus), Mandic, Randelovic 1, Ubovic, Jaksic 1, S. Mitrovic 2. Head coach: Dejan Savic
Australia: Hrysanthos – G. Ford, Kayes 1, Gilchrist 1, Younger 1, A. Ford, Hollis. Subs.: Putt, Power 1, Edwards 1, Fannon, Brooks. Head coach: Elvis Fatovic
Without exaggeration, it would have been a world sensation if the Australian team would defeat the Olympic champion, world champion, European Champion and World League winner Serbian team, the potentially winner of the World Championships.
The Serbs have become a group leader and the Australians have suffered from the French for a comeback, after the Hungarian and Italian nationals have been defeated them easily. Of course the Brazilians were beaten for the eight, so they could face the title defender today.
The Serbs started well, 30 seconds were enough to get the first goal, by Milos Cuk, Filip Filipovic doubled the advantage, Jarrad Gilchrist could beautify not much later. At the beginning of the second quarter Dusko Pijetlovic’s goal resulted a 5-1 Serbian lead, and it was encouraging for the Fatovic team to catch to 5-3 in the second quarter after a few minutes.
After that, Serbia has initiated the rockets so Stefan Mitrovic had three more goals, made the advantage to five goals before the big break.
The Serbs demonstrated in this match – as usual – that the national team members were equally successful, at the end of the third quarter, when 12-5 were the result, and five players were on two goals.
In the end, Filipovic was the only player made 3 points, with the Serbs having won 10 in total for the quarter finals.
After winning their group the World Championship’s 6th place holder Hungarian national team earned a three-day break to prepare for tonight’s game.
The Russians did not rest, but instead they have beaten the Spaniards by some surprise for the eight. The Hungarian and the Russian national team met last time at the European Championship in Belgrade last year, ended up with 12-6 for the Hungarians.
Norbert Hosnyánszky scored the first goal of the match in advantage, at the end of the first minute (1-0). Viktor Nagy was able to defend himself in a man’s disadvantage, so the game went pretty well for the Hungarians.
The beginning of the second quarter also started with a similar scenario: Viktor Nagy defended the fifth Russian shot, while Dénes Varga scored 6-0.
Ivan Nagaev broke the goal silence from the Russian side, with a nasty goal, almost from the base line to Viktor Nagy’s goal line, quite unexpectedly. The Hungarian national team did not detract from this.
The second half started with lightning fast two Hungarian goals, so we could record in 10-1, this match will be pulled by the Hungarian national team, so after 2013 we can play again for the medal. Russia then doubled the number of goals at the end of the third quarter, but it did not endanger the sure Hungarian leadership – especially that Hosnyánszky fired again with succsess (11-4). There are not many questions left for the last quarter, the Hungarian national team win the match with confidence, so they are facing Greece in the semi-final.
Results of men’s water polo matches played in the 17th World Aquatics Championships in Budapest on Monday. Tingmao Shi and Yani Chang of China wom the women’s 3 m springboard synchronised diving event. Aisen Chen and Hao Yang of China triumphed in the men’s 10 m platform synchro diving event. Manila Flamini and Giorgio Minisini of Italy triumphed in the synchro swimming mixed duet technical event.
waterpolo.hu – The Hungarian men’s national team gave head coach Tamás Märcz the perfect birthday present as they powered past Australia to record a 13-3 victory in their opening match at the World Championships. Their next match is on Wednesday against Italy, who defeated France 18-9.
Hungary and Australia drew 9-9 at last year’s Rio Olympics the last time the teams met at a major tournament, and although only four players remain from that Australia team Hungary were by no means expecting a straight-forward victory.
It certainly didn’t start out that way, Australia taking the game to Hungary early on, failing to convert a number of chances before Lachlan Edwards eventually gave them the lead after three and a half minutes following a pass from Aaron Younger. Anthony Hrysanthos then saved from Gergő Zalánki, but was unable to prevent a fierce shot from Márton Vámos finding its way into the net with less than two minutes of the quarter left to play. Australia remained in the ascendancy, Viktor Nagy in the Hungary goal making a number of saves as the sides took a breather at 1-1.
Nagy continued to keep the Australians at bay in the second period, and at the other end Dénes Varga scoring two action goals, Norbert Hosnyánszky adding another, and then Varga scoring his third of the evening from a man-up situation after Younger had brought Australia some hope of keeping up with their hosts. The score at half-time saw Hungary 5-2 ahead.
Australia fought valiantly in the third, but were unable to break down the Hungarian defence with any great regularity, and when they did, Nagy stood in their path. Hungary went further ahead as Varga converted a penalty shot won by Tamás Mezei, and were 7-2 to the good when Béla Török made the most of another man-up situation. An action goal from Joe Kayes did keep Australia give Australia a glimmer of hope, Hungary leading 7-3 going into the final eight minutes.
That glimmer faded quickly though, Hungary running riot in the fourth quarter as they scored a further six goals without reply. Balázs Hárai and Tamás Mezei both got on the score sheet before Krisztián Manhercz, Vámos, Török, and then Manhercz again rounded off the scoring, the final score of 13-3 being duly hailed by an ecstatic 7,500 crowd.
AUSTRALIA 3-13 HUNGARY (1–1, 1–4, 1–2, 0–6)
AUSTRALIA: Hrysanthos – G. Ford, Edwards 1, Gilchrist, Younger 1, A. Ford, Hollis. Replacements: Putt, Kayes 1, Power, Fannon, Brooks. Head coach: Elvis Fatović
HUNGARY: Nagy V. – Vámos 2, Hosnyánszky 1, Gór-Nagy, Erdélyi, Varga Dénes 4, Hárai 1. Replacements: Török 2, Manhercz 2, Zalánki, Decker Á, Mezei 1. Head coach: Tamás Märcz
Italy – France 18:9 (5:2, 3:4, 7:1, 3:2)
Group C:
Greece – Spain 8:7 (3:1, 2:2, 1:1, 2:3)
Serbia – South Africa 21:5 (6:1, 7:1, 5:1, 3:2)
Group D:
Croatia – United States 12:7 (3:1, 4:2, 3:1, 2:3)
Group A:
Brazil – Kazakhstan 6:2 (1:1, 0:1, 3:0, 2:0)
Canada – Montenegro 8:8 (1:3, 2:2, 1:1, 4:2)
Chinese victory in women’s 3 m springboard synchronised diving
Results:
1. Tingmao Shi, Chang Yani (CHN) 333.30 points
2. Melissa Citrini Beaulieu, Jennifer Abel (CAN) 323.43
Chinese victory in men’s 10 m platform synchro diving
Results:
1. Aisen Chen, Hao Yang (CHN) 498.48 points
Photo: MTI
2. Aleksandr Bondar, Viktor Minibaev (RUS) 458.85
3. Patrick Hausding, Sascha Klein (GER) 440.82
Italian victory in synchro swimming mixed duet technical event
Results:
1. Manila Flamini, Giorgio Minisini (ITA) 90.2979 points
2. Mikhaela Kalancha, Aleksandr Maltsev (RUS) 90.2639
3. Kanako Kitao Spendlove, Bill May (USA) 87.6682
FINA executive director honoured with tree at Duna Arena
A tree was planted at Budapest’s brand new Duna Arena to mark FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu’s 70th birthday on Monday.
Marculescu, who had a significant role in bringing the 17th World Aquatics Championships to Budapest, was greeted in a ceremony by FINA president Julio Maglione, National Development Minister Miklós Seszták, the head of the organising committee, Balázs Fürjes, government commissioner for priority investments in Budapest, and Tamás Gyárfás, vice president of FINA.
Alexandra Patskevich and Svetlana Kolesnichenko of Russia triumphed in the women’s synchro swimming duet technical event of the 17th World Aquatics Championships in Budapest on Sunday. Aurelie Muller of France won the women’s 10 km open water swimming event in Balatonfüred, in western Hungary. Jianfeng Peng of China triumphed in the men’s 1 m springboard diving event. Qian Ren and Yajie Si of China triumphed in the women’s 10 m platform synchro diving event.
Russian victory in women’s synchro swimming duet technical event
Results:
1. Alexandra Patskevich, Svetlana Kolesnichenko (RUS) 95.2036 points
2. Wenwen Jiang, Tingting Jiang (CHN) 94.0775
3. Yelizaveta Yakhno, Anna Voloshyna (UKR) 92.6482
Photo: MTI
French victory in women’s 10 km open water swimming
Results:
1. Aurelie Muller (FRA) 2:00:13.70 hours
2. Samantha Arevalo (ECU) 2:00:17.20
3. Arianna Bridi (ITA) 2:00:17.20
Aurelie Muller (FRA), photo: MTIPhoto: MTI
Chinese victory in men’s 1 m springboard diving
Results:
1. Jianfeng Peng (CHN) 448.40 points
2. Chao He (CHN) 447.20
3. Giovanni Tocci (ITA) 444.25
Chinese victory in women’s 10 m platform synchro diving
Results:
1. Qian Ren, Yajie Si (CHN) 352.56 points
2. Kim Mi Rae, Kim Kuk Hyang (PRK) 336.48
3. Pandelela Pamg, Jun Hoong Cheong (MAS) 328.74
Women’s water polo, 1st day: Italy, China, Spain and USA claimed the victory
Eight matches in the first day: that is our programme for the start of the 17th FINA World Championships at Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex.
Extramen: 1/6 and 1/3
Penalties: 1/1 and 1/1
Exlused: Robinson (CAN)
World League silver medallist Canada started the game really well their defense was great including goalkeeper Jessica Gaudreault good performance – she was the best goalkeeper in the World League Super Final in June.
But in the second quarter Italy started to dominate the game and made a spectacular 5-0 series. In the second half of the match Italian ladies played in an other dimension and finally won the game confidently.
Brazília: Abla – Zablith 1, Cardos 1, Amaral, Dias 1, Bahia, Duarte 1. Subs: K. Ferreira, S. Ferreira, Belorio. Head coach: Eduardo Abla
Kína: Peng – Mei, Xiong, Niu 1, Guo, C. Zhang 3, Z. Zhang 2. Subs: Shen (goalkeeper), Bi, Nong 1, D. Zhang 1, Chen 2, J. Zhong 1. Head coach: Dali Gong
Extraman: 1/6 and 2/12
Exclused: Bahia (Brazília)
After a dinamic start the match soon brought us the first goals of the game. From 2-0 the Chinese team managed to turn the game around, therefore by the end of the quarter the Chinese lead grew to two points. The sharp and fast attacks of the Asian team has proved to be impossible to defend for the Brazilian team. In the third quarter China continued its agressive attacks, but the Brazilians managed to make use of their opportunities better therefore they emerged as the winner of the quarter. The constantly offensive Chinese tactics proved to be more resulting, the Brazilians tried to score some goals from a long distance but mostly failed. The match ended with three strong Chinese hits.
W3 Group B
New Zealand-Spain 2-10 (0-3, 1-1, 0-2, 1-4) Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Salnichenko (RUS), Molnár P. (HUN)
New Zealand: Minleich – Mason 1, Lopes da Silva 1, Stoneman, Bowry, Hudson, Pye. Subs. Lewis, Ferigo, Doyle, Houghton. Head coach: Andrea Winstanley-Smith
Spain: Ramos – A. Espar 2, B. Ortiz, M. Ortiz, Gomez 2, C. Espar, P. Rovirosa 3. Subs. Bach, Carrasco, Forca 1, Barriga 1, A. Rovirosa 1. Head coach: Miguel Oca
Extraman: 0/9 and 5/10
Penalties: 0/0 and 1/1
Exlused: Mason Kelly (New Zealand)
In 2014 Spain had a fantastic event at Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex as they won the European Championships in Budapest. Now they have big aims for the 17th FINA World Championships also and for these goals a clear and easy victory against New Zealand was the first step.
Photo: MTI
There was no question during the game, kiwis only had some moments (and their defense was suprisingly good) but Spain dominated the whole game and claimed the three points.
W4 Group B
Republic of South Africa–United States 2-24 (0-6, 0-7, 2-5, 0-6) Hajós Alfréd Swimming Complex, referees: Garibaldi (ARG), Daners (URU)
South Africa: Penny – Paley, Schooling 1, Hallendorf, Barret 1, White, Nixon. Subs: Thomas, Faulman, Wessels, Keeny, Smit, Manson. Head Coach: Gareth Samuel
United States: Stone – Seidemann 5, Fattal 3, Raney, Neushul Kiley 3, Neushul Jamie 6, Fischer Makenzie 2, Williams 1. Subs: Musselmann, Hauschild 2, Steffens, Fischer Aria 2, Longan. Head Coach: Krikorian Adam
Extramen: 1/5 and 2/4
The whole match was unquestionably dominated by the American national team. They lead grew to six goals by the end of the first quarter. Almost every single American shot ended up in the South African goal, while their opponents could barely launch any successful attack against them. The match ended with a crushing American victory.
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There are only a couple days left until the 2017 World Aquatics Championship kicks off at Budapest, for the first time hosted by Hungary, so szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu has collected 10 facts that you might not have known about the event.
1. It is the World Championships for aquatic sports such as swimming, diving, high diving, open water swimming, synchronised swimming, and water polo. The “FINA” part of the official name is the abbreviation of Fédération Internationale de Natation, the name of the national association for aquatic sports.
2. Originally, Guadalajara was supposed to host this year’s championship, but Hungary took over the task when they withdrew in February 2015. This means, that this championship was organised in the shortest time ever since Hungary only had 2 years to make this real.
3. Hungary participated with really good achievements in the past: after the 2015 championship, Hungary had 31 gold-, 24 silver- and 28 bronze medals altogether, won by swimmers and polo players. Hungary is seventh, concerning the number of medals won, the USA is the leader of the board with 227 gold-, 180 silver- and 125 bronze medals.
4. At the 1991 world championship, at Perth, Australia, the Hungarian participants won 5 gold-, 2 silver- and 2 bronze medals. Both Krisztina Egerszegi and Tamás Darnyi were world champions in 2 categories each.
5. The opening ceremony at Budapest invites you for a special experience: there will be four barges, all of them weighing 1600 tonnes, stages altogether sized 3000 square metres, 2000 costumes, 40 drones and over 510 artists participating.
6. 76 world champion titles in 6 different categories wait for the competitors to win them in the following 16 days.
7. The newly built Danube Arena is the most special among the venues, where there are 5 pools and 12 ten-story apartment houses could be fit into the pools. 15000 spectators could be fit into the arena, but the scaffolding will be dismantled after the championship so that only 6000 people could fit in there. The remaining elements will be recycled.
Photo: fina-budapest2017.com
8. The venue over the lake at Városliget is the first swimming pool ever in the history of the world championship that is not built in a stadium but in nature.
9. 85000 spectators are expected to come to the event, so it has great touristic significance as well.
10. Some of the venues, like the Danube Arena built close to the Pest side of the Árpád bridge, or the Hajós Alfréd National Swimming Stadium at Margaret Island, or the high diving venue on the Danube, are accessible via boat as they are built along the Danube.
This weekend marks the beginning of the World Aquatics Championships, the biggest sport event Hungary has ever hosted. Sport lovers from all over the world will focus on our country and cheer for their favourite swimmers, water polo players and divers between the 14th and 30th of July. CNN collected five reasons to prove that you should definitely tune in for the races.
No Phelps or Lochte
Two of the most successful athletes in the history of swimming won’t be present in Budapest due to different reasons. The 23-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps announced his retirement after the Rio Olympic Games, while the 6-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte is serving his ban for an alcohol-fuelled case. This means that the chance of new stars to be born in Hungary is quite high.
Scenic location
The athletes will compete in more than 200 events during the two weeks at five iconic venues. After Mexico dropped out last minute as a host, the organisers had to build the main venue in less than two years. CNN also commemorates the rich Hungarian aquatics tradition and expects enthusiastic crowds at all venues.
“Hungary is a country of waters; we have lakes, we have rivers, we have everything. We want to show it to the world, not only those who come to Budapest but to the spectators as well” FINA’s Miklós Borsa told CNN Sport.
The water polo competition will be held in the renovated Alfréd Hajós swimming complex on the Margaret Island, which has been the home of legendary Hungarian teams since 1930. Synchronised swimming will be staged in a picturesque environment in the City Park, high divers will have the Parliament as a background for their moves, while open water swimming will be held in Balatonfüred.
The venue for synchronised swimming – Photo: www.fina-budapest2017.com
New stars, old legends
As mentioned above, new stars are expected to be born in Budapest. Who will be able to take the place of the absent Phelps, Lochte and Missy Franklin? When it comes to Hungarian athletes, all eyes will be on Katinka Hosszú and László Cseh. Americans probably have most of their hope in Katie Ledecky, while the Brits are curious to see whether or not diving superstar Tom Daley will take back his throne.
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High velocity diving
The sport of high diving evolved from cliff diving, and this will be the third time that it is an official discipline at the World Championships. Men will jump off from a 27 metres tall platform, while women will do the same from a 20 metres tall platform. This means that divers can reach a very high speed so they’ll enter the water with their feet first. It will definitely be a unique spectacle on the coast of the Danube.
Photo: www.fina-budapest2017.com
World records are set to fall
Even though the Olympic Games was held last year, several world records are expected to be broken in Hungary. It is a tendency that athletes perform outstandingly well in post-Olympic years, so get ready for many exciting races in the Dagály Swimming Complex.
The 17th FINA World Championships, starting on 14th July is now being popularized by its new campaign. In the center of the attention, there are the six sports of the world event (swimming, acrobatic diving, synchronized swimming, water polo, high diving, and open water swimming).
Less than one month left until the beginning of the biggest sport event ever of Hungary, the 17th FINA World Championships-organized in Budapest and Balatonfüred. The organizer of the event, Bp2017 Nkft., has just launched its new campaign is now popularizing the six sports of the world event, drawing people’s attention to the exceptional performance of the sportsmen and activating interest shown in different sports, both locally and internationally.
The campaign starts with a short film, entitled “This Summer New Legends will be Born”. The video is presenting the six sports embodied by legendary water creatures. Swimming is symbolized by the shark, the most fearsome animal of the seas, open water swimming is presented by the “wanderer” of the seas, the whale. With its characteristic movements dolphin became the symbol of the acrobatic diving, while orca in high diving, synchronized schools of fish in synchronized swimming and octopus in water polo became the emblems.
Animals come to life in a mysterious museum. At different parts of the room, a projection is waiting for its visitors highlighting and presenting outstanding sport achievements and sportsmen of exceptional performance from the previous decades- further strengthening the concept of using animals for the identification with different sports.
Sculptures demonstrated in the video were designed by one of the most famous contemporary artists of Hungary, the internationally acknowledged Miklós Gábor Szőke.
Miklós Szőke in the studio, photo by FINA
“I found the basic idea of the campaign very attractive so it was not a question for me to take it. By keeping in mind the analogy of the aquatic sports I created the animal characters, first designed in a 3D model. They come to life in the short film. Elemental force, exceptional performance and technique of the water legends, are also the features of the top-level sportsmen.”- said Miklós Gábor Szőke.
We believe the video will not only help the preparation of world-class sportsmen arriving to our country but also grabs the attention of sport lovers in the following one month.
FINA World Championships – It is the greatest sports event that Budapest has ever hosted. The fabulous city now has an opportunity not only to prove its organizing merits, but to also show foreigner visitors its spectacular sights. Here are the World Championship’s scenes in Budapest according to Origo.
Batthyány Square, Danube Bank
The square that was named after Hungary’s first prime minister serves as the scene of high diving. It will be the only scene which lies on the western bank of River Danube in the Buda area, and the fascinating building of the Hungarian Parliament will be visible on the other side of the river.
Batthyány Square will be the venue of probably the most spectacular event of the FINA World Championship, high diving. Female competitors will have to jump from 20, male competitors from 27 meters high into the water in the most scenic way possible.
It is not the first time when the square takes part in the international sports life: in 2003, Red Bull Air Race’s Hungarian grand prix could be splendidly viewed from there, as the racing planes glided above the Danube.
Duna Arena
Budapest’s most recent spectacle is Duna Arena, which will play a vital role during the competition. It consists of two main complexes: a base building with a capacity of 6,000 people and a temporary complex that will be constructed exclusively for the World Championship. We don’t have to worry, the base building was designed in a way that it will remain Budapest’s gem even after the demolition of the seasonal building. Its blocks will be shipped away and used elsewhere after the end of the competition.
Danube Arena, photo: MTI
Duna Arena has two swimming pools built according to Olympics standards, and the auditorium’s capacity will be increased to 12,000 people for the duration of FINA World Championship. The construction of this building was carried out in less than two years, and it is definitely of world-class quality.
Alfréd Hajós National Swimming Stadium
Photo: fina-budapest2017.com
This complex, which was named after Hungary’s first Olympic champion who also designed the building, is considered to be the Mecca of swimming and water polo. Since its opening in 1930, this stadium witnessed multiple generations of water polo teams developing into world champions with nine gold medals in Olympics and three gold medals in former FINA World Championships.
The stadium was extended multiple times. The most significant development took place in 2006, when the Tamás Széchy sector was built with a new open pool and a diving pool. This part of the complex got its name from a former master trainer.
The “Hajós” served as a venue for multiple world championships, with the world championship of water polo in 2001 and the European championship of swimming in 2006 and 2010 among them. It was also the scene of the world championship of pentathlon in 1954 and 1999 and a Champions League final.
Városliget lake
Photo: Daily News Hungary
Városliget lake, which has also been used for ice skating during the winter since 1830, lies in the neighborhood of Vajdahunyad castle and Heroes’ Square, latter of which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. This is a special venue among these five because of its fascinating natural environment.
Next to the lake, we can find the City Park Ice Rink, which was opened in 1900 and since then, it provided a venue to countless sports events, most notably the European championship of speed skating in 2012.
Photo: fina-budapest2017.com
This time, however, it is not ice but water is the one that fills up the place, serving as a pool for synchronized swimming. For the time of the FINA World Championship, two new mobile pools will be installed.
Hopefully the combination of Heroes’ Square monumentality, Vajdahunyad castle’s glory and the beautiful environment of the lake will charm the foreigner audience the same way as it does with us Hungarians.
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Press release – The key venue of the 17th FINA World Championships have debuted internationally by hosting one of the highest attended LEN Champions League Final Six of all times. The event itself as well as the impress, as well as the impressive facility, among the audience, national and international guests, fans and athletes alike.
„This swimming stadium is awesome together with the whole environment and the atmosphere. We get to see top water polo players of the world, perhaps it is the best Champions League Final of all times. I am impressed” – said Elvis Fatovic, head coach of the Australian team on Friday, who was concerned for several reasons.
For one thing plenty of players attending the World Championships in summer were competing in the pool this time as well and this way he could observe them playing, and for another thing, his son, Loren plays in the title defender finalist team, Jug Dubrovnik.
Photo: Szilárd Koszticsák/MTI
„I have not really seen any swimming pools like this in Europe before, the circumstances are brilliant. Water polo is a sport in which Hungarians take great pride, they love this discipline and other aquatic sports, as well. Having the opportunity to cheer in such facilities is enviable, I am sure a lot of spectators will attend without special invitation, as well” –Sava Randelovic, Olympic and world champion Serbian player of AN Brescia said about the Danube Arena.
Marco Del Lungo (AN Brescia), goalkeeper of the Italian team shared his opinion: „It is a privilege to play in this arena, but it would be a great honour to do so in Hajós Alfréd Swimming Stadium, as well, and I hope I will have the opportunity to do so.”
„This was my very first water polo match and it was a remarkable experience for me” – summarised briefly an enthusiastic fan walking from the Danube Arena towards Árpád Bridge at the end of the first day of the Final Six. Just like in the case of the Final Six, organisers have determined ticket prices for the 17th FINA World Championships with the intention to ensure that attendance is affordable for any sport enthusiasts (no wonder that there is great interest in purchasing tickets for the World Champs, too).
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Nearly 20 thousand fans watched the 3-day event on the site. In addition, key representatives of this sport were present, as well, in addition to Elvis Fatovic, Dejan Savic Serbian, Ivica Tucak Croatian, Alessandro Campagna Italian, Ratko Rudic Brazilian, Jesus Martin Spanish and Tamás Märcz Hungarian head coach attended the event. They will all have to return to Budapest for the 17th FINA World Championships this summer. (Similarly to Theodoris Vlachos, who is the coach of Final Six participant, Olympiacos and the Greek national team as well.)
Regarding the results: the first day saw the victory of Hungarian championships silver medallist ZF-Eger against AN Brescia (6-4), while the winner of last year, Jug Dubrovnik defeated Greek Olympiacos decisively (11-8) in a battle similar to that of the final in 2016.
Photo: Giorgio Scala
Quite surprisingly the Italian Pro Recco was defeated by Dubrovnik (10-9) in the semi-finals, while in the battle by the Hungarian teams Szolnok Dózsa-Közgép beat Eger (7-5) in a great combat – in the match for the 5th place Brescia won against Olympiacos 8-5.
In the bronze match on Saturday Pro Recco was beyond doubt far stronger than Eger (15-6), in the final Szolnok excelled Jug Dubrovnik in front of 10 000 fans marking the greatest success in the history of Szolnok.
„I was all smiles at the end because it was a great fight and it was an awesome game for all of us. The organising, the pool and Hungarians’ love for sport is fascinating and it will sure be the same at the World Champs in summer. I congratulate everyone who was involved in the organising” – said the Brazilian, Felipe Perrone, adding that he has to miss the World Champs for personal reasons.
„Our defence was the best, this was the key to winning the Champions League. The arena was fascinating, together with the fans and the conduct of the event. I myself will return in summer, our goal with the French team will be to make it to the top 8 and we are going to work hard for it in the upcoming period” – said Ugo Crousillat, the French player of the winning team, Szolnok.
The Danube Arena has therefore made its debut and it was more than promising, regarding the World Championships of summer.
Szolnok were roared on to European glory in Budapest this weekend when they beat title-holders Jug Dubrovnik 10-5 to become LEN Champions’ League winners.
Despite a huge partisan crowd of 10,000 roaring on the home team Szolnok, Jug powered into a 3-1 lead by the early stages of the second quarter. A quick-fire double from Milan Aleksic levelled matters before Marco Macan edged the Croatian national champions in front. From that moment on Szolnok took full control of the game, Andrija Prlainovic equalising from the five-metre penalty line after Gábor Kis had been fouled before Márton Vámos twice fired in trademark shots which crashed past Bijac in the Jug goal.
Photo: MTI
The score was 6-4 at half-time but Szolnok didn’t let the break check their momentum, Kis again drawing a foul from which Prlainovic scored another penalty to extend his team’s lead to three. Pavo Markovic pulled one back for Jug but with Viktor Nagy in imperious form in goal it was always going to take a truly special effort to regain any more ground in this contest. Such a challenge was even harder given the attacking talent at Szolnok’s disposal and Aleksic exemplified this when he rattled a free throw just inside the near left post from ten metres to re-establish that three-goal advantage just before the end of the third quarter.
The first goal of the fourth and final period would be crucial in determining the momentum in the remaining minutes and thankfully for the majority of the crowd it was Szolnok’s Zivko Gocic who scored it, his left-handed throw finding the far left corner of the net from eight metres to sent his team into raptures. A four-goal lead in such a final was incredible but also fully-deserved, Sándor Cseh’s team having dominated every facet of the game since that second quarter. Macan struck a post for Jug as they tried in vain to gain a foothold in the game, Gábor Kis instead crushing their hopes once and for all with a fabulous finish into the top left corner of the net from a central position 12 metres from the Jug goal.
The final score was 10-5 to Szolnok who now become the first Hungarian team since Honvéd in 2004 to claim European club water polo’s biggest prize! Szolnok also dominated the individual awards, Viktor Nagy being awarded best goalkeeper of the tournament and Andrija Prlainovic winning the Best Player prize.
SZOLNOK: Nagy V. – Gocics 1, Vámos 2, Jansik D., Mezei, Prlainovics 3, Varga Dénes. Replacements: Crousillat, Alekszics 3, Younger, Kis G. 1, Fülöp. Head coach: Cseh Sándor
Photo: MTI
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The Final Six of LEN Champions League will take place in the Danube Arena between 25 and 27 May. Top men’s water polo players fight for victory on the continent in a traditional six-group tournament. The tournament will be the first international event held in the Danube Arena, venue of the swimming and diving events of the 17th FINA World Championships.
Title defender Croatian Jug Dubrovnik, last year’s silver medallist Greek Olympiacos, Italian Pro Recco and AN Brescia, as well as two Hungarian top teams, last year’s bronze medallist Szolnoki Dózsa-Közgép and ZF-Eger will participate in the Final Six this year. The three-day-long event offers high quality game for spectators and fans.
Although the water polo tournament of the 17th FINA World Championships will take place in Hajós Alfréd Swimming Stadium, the atmosphere of the Final Six, the impressions of the Danube Arena will provide a foretaste of what is anticipated during the World Championships in this facility.
The Final Six will feature a number of water polo players playing in the Hungarian, Italian, Serbian, Montenegrin, Croatian, Spanish and Greek national teams at the World Champs, also. This tournament will be an important one concerning preparations for the World Champs. Tamás Märcz, head coach of the Hungarian team, for instance is to decide about the final roster for the World Champs following the Final Six.
At the event’s press conference Tamás Gyárfás, FINA Vice President, Alexander Sostar, LEN Bureau member (conveying the greetings of Paolo Barelli, LEN President, also), Dénes Kemény, President of the Hungarian Water Polo Federation and Marco Birri, Operational Manager of LEN all greeted the organisers from Budapest.
They all agreed that it is a privilege and at the same time a great opportunity that it will be the discipline of water polo which will debut in the central venue of the 17th FINA World Championships.
Organisers expect more than 15-18 thousand visitors during the 3-day Final Six tournament (4 LED screens ensure better visibility). In the course of this programme the official opening ceremony of the Danube Arena will take place at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday.
LEN Champions League Final Six, Danube Arena:
Thursday, 25 May – quarterfinals:
Olympiacos–Jug Dubrovnik, 7 p.m.
ZF-Eger–AN Brescia, 8.30 p.m.
Friday, 26 May – semi-finals
For the 5th place 5.30 p.m.
Olympiacos/Jug Dubrovnik–Pro Recco, 7 p.m.
ZF-Eger/AN Brescia–Szolnoki Dózsa-Közgép, 8.30 p.m.
Saturday, 27 – finals
Bronze medal match, 3.15 p.m.
Final, 4.45 p.m.
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European champion, Olympic 4th placed Hungarian women’s water polo team has started preparing for the 17th FINA World Championships in Somorja, Slovakia.
One of the favourite teams of women’s water polo tournament is that of the Hungarian which gained European champion title in Belgrade last January and played bronze final at the Rio Olympics (finally Russia finished third).
In Kazan, 2015 the team finished 9th. This summer the teams aims at gaining a medal. Their way to 16 July, the beginning of the World Championships features the following milestones.
1. Announcing the extended roster
Head coach Attila Bíró announced the names of those 18 players who will start preparing for the tournament. The newly announced roster contains only one player who played in the former world champion team. She is Orsolya Takács and she played in the team gaining world champion title in Montreal, 2005. Members of the team claiming gold last year at the European Championships in Belgrade will all play this summer except for Hanna Kisteleki.
2. First stage of direct preparation for the World Champs
Different from previous practice preparations for the World Championships were started in the week of 15 May in the fully-equipped X-Bionic Sport Center (appropriate for 26 Olympic disciplines) in Somorja, Slovakia instead of Budapest. During the first days the girls has some interesting as well as challenging moments: in addition to light programmes, such as beach volley in the morning, cycling tour or movie watching in the cinema the schedule features a huge amount of swimming training as well.
The national team is preparing in Somorja for a whole week.
3. Players from the USA join, a week on the „Island”
Anna Illés and Dóra Antal will return from the USA in the second week. The girls attending Berkeley will return to Hungary after 9 months. Although the 50m pool of Hajós Alfréd Swimming Stadium and the grandstands are being prepared for the World Championships the national team will prepare in Széchy pool on Margaret Island.
5. First Chinese week– a tournament of 8 teams
The team will spend the first days of June in China. In addition to training the team will enter an 8-team tournament. The United States, Russia, the Netherlands, China, as well as Australia, Hungary, Greece and Japan are included in the two groups of the tournament in Kunshan.
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6. Second Chinese week – World League Super Final
The Hungarian team was the first one in Europe to qualify for the World League Super Final where it will play Australia, Canada and China in group matches. The tournament in Shanghai will take place between 6 and 11 June.
7. Back to home, three weeks in Budapest then announcing the roster
Works will be continued in light of newly gained experience, it is expected that Attila Bíró will announce the final roster of 13 at the end of this stage.
8. International tournament in Miskolctapolca with strong teams
Hungary will play Olympic champion title holder US team, 4th placed Australian team and New Zealand at the Vodafone Cup in Miskolctapolca from 5 and 7 July, directly before the World Championships.
9. Trainings with the USA in Eger
Preparations will be continued with the world champion title holder USA in Bitskey pool in Eger.
10. World Championships commence in Hajós Alfréd Swimming Stadium
The 17th FINA World Championships women’s tournament will commence on 16 July on Margaret Island. The Hungarian national team will first play against Japan, further opponents include the Netherlands and France in the group.
Press release – Attila Bíró head coach of the women’s national team hosting the 17th FINA World Championships announced the names of those 18 players who will be involved in the preparations for the World Championships.
Six members of the UVSE champion team feature the preliminary roster of the Hungarian team which finished 9th after playing the Netherlands, Japan and France in Kazan, then they claimed European Champion title in Beograd and were ranked 4th in Rio.
Three goalkeepers will be involved in the preps for the world championships under the leadership of Attila Bíró. The roster includes Dóra Antal and Anna Illés, who study and play water polo in the US. The roster includes Dorottya Szilágyi and Gréta Gurisatti from the team of Dunaújváros in addition to previous key members but Rebecca Parkes – invited specifically for the world championships, experienced played, Barbara Bujka and Orsolya Takács will also be participating in the preparatory training.
The team will begin preparations on 15 May in Somorja, then they will train in Budapest and fly to China. There they will participate in the World League Super Final between 6 and 11 June. The Hungarian Federation is conducting an international tournament in Miskolctapolca featuring the American, Australian and New Zealander teams, too.
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Extended WCH roster of the women’s team:
Goalkeepers: Flóra Bolonyai (BVSC), Edina Gangl (UVSE), Orsolya Kasó (Dunaújváros)
Field players: Dóra Antal (Berkeley, US), Barbara Bujka (Szeged), Dóra Czigány (UVSE), Dóra Csabai (UVSE), Anna Illés (Berkeley, US), Krisztina Garda (Dunaújváros), Gréta Gurisatti (Dunaújváros), Rita Keszthelyi (UVSE), Kata Menczinger (Dunaújváros), Rebecca Parkes (Eger), Noémi Somhegyi (Dunaújváros), Dorottya Szilágyi (Dunaújváros), Gabriella Szücs (UVSE), Orsolya Takács (BVSC), Ildikó Tóth (UVSE)
Women’s teams at the World Championships:
Group A: Italy, Brazil, Canada, China
Group B: New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, USA
Group C: Japan, Netherlands, Hungary, France
Group D: Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Greece
World Championships group matches by the Hungarian team:
One of the most eagerly awaited event of the 17th FINA Masters World Championships will be the water polo 40+ tournament. This category will feature several players of the legendary golden water polo team of Hungary, including three, two and one-time Olympic champions. The motivation is already high, the experience will most definitely be remarkable in the water and in the stands alike.
Shortly after the agreement was signed on Budapest hosting the 2017 FINA World Championships and the following Masters World Championships the eyes of Tamás Kásás, three-time Olympic champion alighted. The legendary water polo player -member of the national team earning the Olympic champion title in 2000, 2004 and 2008- is the only member of the previous team who is not engaged in this discipline any more hence it is even more surprising that he was the one to initiate the reunion of the „good old team”.
Sometimes we could see some occasions when they played together again, they last reunited in 2016 autumn for the farewell gala match of Péter Biros in Eger. Back then they all knew that they would soon be preparing for a new challenge. The previous months have seen intense communication and enthusiastic preparation by the team.
Here is the list of players who have registered for the Masters WCH so far:
Tibor Benedek, Péter Biros, Rajmund Fodor, István Gergely, Tamás Kásás, dr. Gergely Kiss, Tamás Märcz, dr. Tamás Molnár, dr. Barnabás Steinmetz, Zoltán Szécsi, Bulcsú Székely, Tamás Varga, Zsolt Varga, Attila Vári. Coaches: dr. Dénes Kemény, Zoltán Kósz
Tamás Märcz will definitely have a busy summer as he is the head coach of the hosting national team preparing for the elite world championships and afterwards he will enter the pool as a member of the team called Millenium in the Masters.
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„We have been dealing with this opportunity for months, so it did not just bounce off our heads. We had several reasons to enter the tournament, the most important thing is that Budapest is to host the Masters WCH so we can play again in front of our own audience. For another thing, we are now part of the 40+ age group, we have matured. Gala matches we have played together lately have also given us a boost. These include for instance the gala in Eger or Debrecen, organised by Tamás Varga earlier. These are nice experiences from the recent past. Although most of us are not active players any more, it was not so long ago when we were, so we can get back in shape relatively fast” – said the center player of the squad claiming gold in Sydney.
As a matter of fact, from the list above it is only Gergely Kiss, who is still an active player, Barnabás Steinmetz played in Honvéd team back in the early season while Zoltán Szécsi enter the pool every now and then as the player-coach of Kaposvár to prove his skills as a goalie – all the others have retired from the sport already.
„This tournament will have a sort of farewell character to it, since the team retired we have not played a match in Budapest with this squad. Personally I have been training to stay in shape ever since, but today I have started wet trainings in BVSC. We cannot afford to enter the tournament unprepared, in addition, we have always aimed at doing our best in the pool. Until we start training together, we motivate one another by sharing our training experiences. No one wants to miss out on this opportunity as we all want to gain some good experience” –Tamás Märcz added.
Two-time Olympic champion in Athens and Beijing, István Gergely is very proud that all Olympic champion members (within the 40+ age group) have agreed to undertake this test together.
„This is actually an ultra last opportunity for us all, who won Olympic and world champion titles and collected some precious metals together, to reunite. I owe a lot to these players and I can’t wait to fight for a common goal again. It will be quite interesting to play together again, to take the positions with a more mature mindset and extensive experience. The mere fact that we can enter an official event once more is a great opportunity and a big challenge” – said István Gergely, working as the managing director of Budapest Honvéd currently.
„I don’t really feel like a 40+ but reading or coming across this number has a certain weight. I keep fit to stay healthy but I haven’t been engaged in swimming or water polo for a while. I have been playing basketball, boxing and working out but now I need to change my trainings. I am planning to start swimming again in May and I will slowly get back on track. I expect some great community experiences I look forward to seeing the old fire light up in us, just like in each world championship before, helping us to succeed. Obviously, our goal is victory, it would be rather weird to lower our expectations to ourselves in a team where the entry ticket is an Olympic champion title” – said István Gergely.
There is a huge interest in the Masters (more than 7000 athletes have registered so far) hence in the water polo tournament, as well. According to the latest information some members of the Russian team (2004 Olympic bronze squad) playing Hungary in the final and claiming a silver in Sydney may participate in the tournament thus the Masters tournament in Hajós Alfréd Swimming Stadium on Margaret island may see the partial repeat of the 2000 Olympic final.
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It feels good even just writing it again. Ferencváros have won the 2017 LEN Euro Cup, their first European trophy in nineteen years.
As we have already reported, the 7-7 draw at home to Oradea means that Ferencváros have won the 2017 LEN Euro Cup. Waterpolo.hu caught up with both coaches, as well four-goal Norbert Madaras after the match.
Ferencváros head coach Zsolt Varga
“I’m delighted. If I were to evaluate the match I’m sure I’d find aspects of our play which have room for improvement, but in this match the mental part was the hardest. Expectations were high after our six-goal victory in the first game, and this wasn’t easy to deal with. We had chances, and if we’d taken them then the second leg would also have been straightforward. To win a cup by a margin of six goals truly is a great result. It seems that it always takes me a day or two for events to really sink in; I’m sure in a day or two I’ll be better able to write about how I feel; for now though, I’m absolutely delighted”.
Photo: Tibor Illyés
Oradea head coach Kálmán Kádár
“Ferencváros are deserved winners of the Euro Cup. You are obviously disappointed as a coach when you see another team lift the trophy, but I feel that for us in Oradea, reaching the final in itself was a great success, never mind that we also made a game of it. I know my players, and know that they had more in them, particularly in the first match”.
Ferencváros player Norbert Madaras
“I think that the first one and a half quarters were crucial tonight. If Oradea had gained some momentum then, they might have acquired the belief that they were in with a shout. It was important that we didn’t allow them to do so; I began the match accordingly. It would have been highly annoying to lose the cup. A couple of very painful defeats stick in my mind, and even though we didn’t win tonight, we’ve won the cup”.
Players: Marko Avramović, Marko Ćuk, Farkas Dőry, András Gárdonyi, Szilárd Jansik, Gergő Katonás, Norbert Madaras, Stefan Mitrović, Balázs Nyéki, Zoltán Pohl, Balázs Szirányi, Márton Tóth, Dániel Varga, Simon Vogel, Soma Vogel Head coach: Zsolt Varga
