water polo

‘Counting back’: 100 days left until the World Championships kick off in Budapest

Summer is approaching as it is reflected by the weather and the calendar is also in line with our expectations. There are 100 days left until the event, the 17th FINA World Championships will begin on 14th July. The biggest sporting event in the history of Hungary will be the world championships of six disciplines. The protagonists are becoming more and more excited and determined, therefore preparation is getting harder and harder.

The 100 days’ milestone is very compact and near, so much so that one may stop and have some thoughts about it. The same thing happened to the Olympic and world championships bronze medallist, 5-time European champion swimmer, Boglárka Kapás and her coach, Balázs Virth. They did not forget about this round number even in Thailand:

‘This is the last week of our training camp in Thailand 100 days before the wold championships. Everybody is healthy and we are preparing for the Hungarian National Championship to be held in Debrecen, where we would like to exceed last year’s results. Debrecen hosted the European Championships earlier and it reminds us of beautiful memories. Now after 100 days Budapest will host the world championships. We are eagerly looking forward to it’ – said Boglárka Kapás in a message and she even recorded this date at the sandy beach in Thailand.

Synchronised swimmers are also preparing for the summer with full determination. We asked Luca Rényi about the milestone:

‘We are counting back at home and we really feel closer and closer to the world championships in Budapest. Our team is great and we pursue a totally different attitude than earlier. We prepare 5-6 hours per day in order to do well at the world championships and after finishing our routine, our coach, Natalia Tarasova, who has been working with us for a year and a half now and can be considered as our ‘second mother’, would tell us: ‘good job’. These two words mean a lot to us and motivate us as well. The routines are improving every day and we would like to show what we are capable of. I believe that thanks to Natalia we will have a very special routine built upon Hungarian traditions.’

Villő Kormos is also preparing to take the plunge, more specifically to plunge into the water. In her status report the Hungarian national team member European championship bronze medallist diver informed:

„100 days prior to the world championship my jumps and movements are about to take their final form. Currently I am working on my back two and a half back somersault with a pike.”

This is how it goes:

„It’s one of my favourite jumps and at the same time one of the most difficult ones. I cannot see where I will land since I am standing with my back to the pool. This is why it is highly important for me to become able to control the direction of the movement in the air. I have competed in two European championships in Budapest, I could make it to the solo finals, we finished fourth with Nóri Barta and sixth with Zsófi Reisinger. High diving is my major event and my great longing is to achieve that all jumps are performed well. Concerning synchro Flóra Fazekas-Gondos and I are aiming at making it to the finals, also. As of now we are practicing here in the „Bubble” on Margaret-island but we can’t wait to try the tower of Duna Arena and its amazing dry training room.”

The national water polo team, attracting thousands of fans to their matches typically, is also tuning for the competition.

Ildikó Tóth, the center player of the European champion women’s water polo team says there are lots of other things to do before the world championships, but most certainly looking forward to the event is exciting already.

‘Fortunately, several nice tasks are awaiting us in our clubs such as the LEN Cup finals or the national championship finals. However, I follow the happenings and have some thoughts about the approaching world championships when seeing some recent pictures or news in the social media. In such situations it is really emotional to realise how close the event is. I am looking forward to it. The national team is always busy preparing, as it is now, according to the calendar we are about to visit several places. I even made friends with the thought of China, we will spend two weeks there. It might be more convenient to be away looking at the present swimming-pool situation here. Our team cannot be considered as a young one and it is important that we do not have to waste much time between the training venue and the accommodation facility. We have also trained in Duna Arena to get some taste of the future atmosphere and we could imagine what the wonder arena would feel with full house. I am eagerly waiting for the summer.’

The 2013 world champion Bence Bátori definitely would like to get into the men’s water polo team for the world championships and he has great chance to do so:

‘I was fortunate to become world champion and I can say it was a fabulous feeling. If we could repeat it at home, it would even be indescribable. I did not go to Rio with the team, that is maybe why I have greater expectations considering the upcoming event. We have already trained in Duna Arena, we can see the preparation and I am sure that this year’s world championships will be of incredibly high level in all disciplines. 100 days… the world championships are really approaching and now after coming across more and more posters and advertisements, it is impossible to step by. Up to now there were three get-togethers with this new national team, all of them went well and I was charged with positive energies. We will have a new team, the expectations are high, Tamás Märcz (head coach) is also very determined. He and our mental trainer have already spoken about the pressure related to a home event and certainly a professional athlete must deal with it properly. I think I have good chance to get into the team. Just like before I also have to put all my efforts into it in the future so that I could gain the head coach’s trust.’

Kristóf Rasovszky may compete in four different events in the open water competition of the 17th FINA World Championships. The 20-year-old swimmer from Veszprém plans to enter the 5k, 10k and 25k contests in the qualifier competition to be held in early summer in France, and he hopes to be a member of the Hungarian team in the relay competition as well.

“My main event is of course the 10k, so the most important thing for me is to do well in that distance, but I may qualify in other events as well. I will be in good shape during the World Championships, so it will not be a problem to compete in three or four events” – Rasovszky said.

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Rasovszky, who won the gold medal at the World Junior Championships and at the European Junior Championships in 2016, adding 5th places in two World Cup events, finished only in 48th place a couple of weeks ago in the World Cup race in Abu Dhabi, his first major competition this year, but surprisingly it has had a positive effect on him.

“I have changed my approach to my trainings, I wanted to work harder, and I got extra motivation. Thanks to this change I managed to win the European Cup event in Eilat. Márk Papp and I could collaborate efficiently, our tactics proved to be successful and having the sufficient power I could endure till the end of the race. “

Rasovszky’s next contest will be the Hungarian Pool Championship in Debrecen, followed by the Hungarian Long Distance Championship and the WCH qualifier.

“I have the qualifier competition on my mind right now, but it goes without saying that afterwards FINA World will dominate my thoughts” – said Rasovszky, whose goal is to finish in the top six during the World Championships in Balatonfüred.

Photo: MTI

April 5, 2017

350,000 fans expected for World Aquatics Championships in Hungary

Budapest, March 9 (MTI) – Nearly 350,000 spectators, including 85,000 foreigners, are expected to turn up for the 2017 World Aquatics Championships, to be held in Hungary from July 14 to 30, an organiser said on Thursday.

Altogether 4,700 hotel rooms have been reserved for the competitors, their escorts, media workers and FINA delegates for a total of 85,000 guest nights, spokesman Miklós Borsa of Bp2017 Nonprofit told MTI.

The competitions will take place in four Budapest venues, including the brand-new Duna Arena, as well as in Balatonfüred.

The 17th edition of the world aquatics championships will feature six branches of sport: swimming, water polo, diving, high diving, synchronised swimming and open water swimming.

March 9, 2017

„It can be the most balanced water polo world championships ever” – Budapest 2017

The 17th World Championships Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Draw was held on the 24th of February at the Sofitel Chain Bridge Hotel in Budapest. Here are some commentary about the results of the draw.

Several head coaches from the men’s field were present at the event and after the „thrills” they spoke about their feelings.

Alessandro Campagna, head coach of Italy:

Giuseppe Porzio, head coach of Canada:

„I think for Canada it is a good draw because we have Brazil, Kazakhstan and Montenegro. It is a young team and if we wanna go ahead we have to do our best. I think for us it is ok but we should work a lot, because we changed a lot in the team. We are a good team, but my players are young and in Canada lots of them leave the water polo. But we have two or three players who are 24-25 years old and if someone of them will come back, may be Justin Boyd or John Conway we would be stronger. May be the group C with Serbia, Greece and Spain is really strong. In group B Italy and Hungary will fight for the first place. Hungary will play at home with a big pressure but I gonna wish all the best to my friend, Tomi Märcz and his team. I know it is not easy to play your best with young players.”

Dejan Savic, head coach of Serbia:

Gianni Lonzi, President of the FINA Technical Water Polo Committee:

The women’s water polo tournaments’ groups:

Group A: Italy, Brazil, Canada, China
Group B: New Zeeland, South Africa, Spain, USA
Group C: Japan, Netherland, Hungary, France
Group D: Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Greece

The men’s water polo tournaments’ groups:

Group A: Brazil, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Canada
Group B: France, Australia, Italy, Hungary
Group C: Spain, Serbia, Greece, South Africa
Group D: USA, Japan, Croatia, Russia

The first placed teams of every group will be automatically reach the quarterfinals, till the every second from the groups will have to compete against the teams finished at their groups at the third places to get into the best 8 teams.

For the quarter-finals:

C2–D3
C3–D2
A2–B3
A3–B2

Quarter-finals:

A1–C2/D3
B1– C3/D2
C1– A2/B3
D1–A3–B2

Semi-finals:

Winner of A1–C2/D3–Winner of B1–C3/D2
Winner of C1– A2/B3–Winner of D1–A3–B2

Read more information about Budapest 2017 HERE.

Photo: MTI

March 1, 2017

Water Polo Draw: the official team schedule of the water polo tournament is out! – FINA – Budapest 2017

The 17th World Championships Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Draw was held on the 24th of February at the Sofitel Chain Bridge Hotel in Budapest. Both of the men and women water polo tournament will have 16 teams competing against each other; the women group match will start on the 16th of July till the men will only start on the next day, on the 17th of July. The final of the women tournament will be held on the 28th of July, the men tournament will finish on the 29th of July at the Hajós Alfréd Swimming Pool.

The draw ceremony of the FINA and the Organising Committee of the 17th World Championships was opened by Tamás Gyárfás warm welcoming words. High interests accompanied the ceremony, several head coaches were there: Dejan Savic (Serbia), Ivica Tucak (Croatia), Giuseppe Porzio (Canada), Dejan Udovicic (United States) and Alessandro Campagna also took part of the draw.

Tünde Szabó dr., the Minister of State for Sport highlighted in her speech at the opening the great importance of the World Championships in Budapest this summer:

‘This event will be one of the biggest sports events ever hold in Hungary, this international event will give so much opportunity for the Hungarian sport to show off and guide the spotlight on us, to make history here. We are standing in front of an event which will be an unforgettable event not only for the fans but for the coaches and the athletes as well. ‘

Dimitris Diathessopoulos, the member of the FINA Bureau welcomed the viewers with warm greetings.

Gianni Lonzi, the first person of the FINA Water Polo Technical Committee was guiding the event, first of all, the women polo team had the draw, later the men polo team had the spotlight. Members of the previous Hungarian World Champion water polo teams (István Szívós – 1973 Belgrade, Attila Vári – 2003 and Norbert Madaras – 2003, 2013 Barcelona, Orsolya Szalkay – 1994 Roma and Rita Drávucz- 2005 Montreal) and many Hungarian representatives of the Hungarian Aquatics sport have been chosen to play part at the draw, for example Szofi Kiss synchronised swimmer, Villő Kormos European bronze medallist diver and Dániel Gyurta Olympic and World Champion swimmer.

The water polo tournaments will be played according to the draw from the 16th of July with the women’s matches and one day later with the men matches. (A number was also picked for each team that were drawn out of the 4 main ranking hats, which defines the position of each team within their group.)

The women’s water polo tournaments’ groups:

The men’s water polo tournaments’ groups:

The first placed teams of every group will be automatically reach the quarterfinals, till the every second from the groups will have to compete against the teams finished in their groups at the third places to get into the best 8 teams.

The 17th World Championships Water Polo draw was followed by another two water polo tournament draws of FINA happening this year. The men junior team will be playing in Belgrade between the 5-13th of August and the women team will be playing in Volos between the 3-9th of September.

The 19th Men’s Junior Water Polo Championship’s groups:

Group A: United States, Russia, Greece, American qualifier, Iran

Group B: Netherland, American qualifier, Spain, Japan, Croatia

Group C: New Zeeland, Australia, American qualifier, Serbia, China

Group D: Italy, Hungary, Egypt, Canada, South Africa

The 12th Women’s Junior Water Polo Championship’s groups:

Group A: Japan, Russia, Hungary, Netherland

Group B: China, Australia, South Africa, Greece

Group C: Italy, Canada, American qualifier, Germany

Group D: Spain, American qualifier, New Zeeland, USA

February 24, 2017

XI Volvo Cup: Hungary recover to beat Olympic silver medallists

After a poor start which saw Hungary 6-1 down at the end of the first period, Tamás Märcz’s team staged a remarkable recovery to defeat Croatia 9-7, a victory which means the hosts finish 2nd in the Volvo Cup behind Montenegro.

XI. Volvo Cup, men’s international tournament, Tüske swimming pool, 3rd and final matchday

Hungary 9-7 Croatia (1–6, 2–1, 3–0, 3–0)

Tüske swimming pool, officials: Horváth R. (SVK), Obradovic (MNG)

Hungary: Decker A. – Bátori 2, Mezei, Vámos 2, Török B., Manhercz K. 1, Nagy Á. 1 Replacements: Zalánki, Jansik D., Tóth M. 1, Fülöp 1, Kovács P. 1. Head coach: Tamás Märcz

Croatia: Marcelic – Loncar 1, Zovic, Bukic, Sukno 3, Setka 1, Buljubasic 1. Csere: Bijac (kapus), Macan. K. Milakovic 1, M. Vrlic, Vukicevic, Krapic. Head coach: Ivica Tucak

Montenegro 18–3 Slovakia (5–1, 6–1, 3–0, 4–1)

Goalscorers: Murisics 5, Krijestoracs 3, Ukropina 3, D. Radovics 2, Ivovics 2, Drasko Brguljan, Pjesivacs, Banicsevics, SVK: Furman, Mitruch, Kolarik

Photo: waterpolo.hu

February 13, 2017

Hungarian water polo team to play host to world’s best in 2017

2017 promises to be a busy year for Hungarian water polo. Already in January club sides will be playing European matches, the men’s and women’s OB I championships also recommence this month, in May Budapest will play host to the Champions League Final Six for the second year running, and then in the summer the World Aquatics Championships are coming.

The most prestigious event taking place this year is the FINA World Aquatics Championships, to be held in Budapest and Balatonfüred between 14th and 30th July. The water polo competition will be held at the Hajós Swimming Complex. Margitsziget will thus play host to the world’s best with men’s Olympic champions Serbia and women’s champions USA among the competitors. The water polo will take place between the 16th and 29th July with the women’s final being held on the 28th and the men’s final one day later. Both Hungary’s men and women are in with a shout of a medal, and the atmosphere promises to be electric.

The Masters World Championship follows (between 7th and 20th August), with recent greats taking to the water, whilst in late May the Champions League Final Six will take place in Budapest, not at the Hajós complex but at the brand-new Dagály Swimming Complex which will also play host to the World Championship swimming events. There may well be as many as three Hungarian sides taking part, whereas last year’s Final Six at the Hajós Complex saw Croatians Jug Dubrovnik victorious, Szolnok come third and Eger sixth.

There are still seven rounds to go in the Champions League group stage with some tough matches ahead for Szolnok, Eger and OSC. Ferencváros have made the last four of the Euro Cup and take on Montenegrins Jadran Herceg Novi in January and February and have one eye on the final which will be held on 22nd March and 5th April with Verona or Oradea providing the other finalists.

Three women’s sides are also still involved in European competition, UVSE, Dunaújváros and BVSC all playing in the Euro League qualifying round between 13th and 15th January for a place in the last eight. The winning quarterfinalists will compete in the Euro League Final Four whereas the four losers will go forward into the Euro Cup Final Four. UVSE are among the favourites but Dunaújváros and BVSC could also make it into the last eight.

The Women’s OB I championship recommences on 7th January and the men’s on the 14th, with the play-offs scheduled for April and May as we find out if Szolnok (in the men’s)and UVSE (in the women’s) can retain their titles.

Tamás Märcz will make his debut as coach of the Hungarian national team at the Volvo Cup (10th-12th February), whilst Attila Bíró’s women’s start the year with against Italy in a key World League qualifier.

Provisional fixture calendar for 2017

January 13–15: Women’s Euro League qualifiers
Group A (Sabadell): Sabadell (Spain), Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia), BVSC, Vouliagmeni (Greece)
Group C (Piraeus): Olympiakos: Olympiakos (Greece), Dunaújváros, Utrecht (Holland), Lille UC (France)
Group D (Messina): UVSE, Padova (Italy), Leiden (Holland), Messina (Italy)
January 18: Eger–Hannover (Germany), OSC–Brescia (Italy), Szolnok–Nice (France), Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
Jadran Herceg Novi (Montenegro)–Ferencváros, Men’s Euro Cup, semi-final 1st leg
January 24: Hungary–Italy, Women’s World League
February 8: Barceloneta (Spain)–Eger, Olympiakos (Greece)–OSC, Szolnok–Spandau (Germany), Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
February 10–12: Volvo Cup (men’s international tournament)
February 18: Eger–Barceloneta (Spain), OSC–Olympiakos (Greece), Spandau (Germany)–Szolnok, Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches; Ferencváros–Jadran Herceg Novi (Montenegro), Men’s Euro Cup, semi-final 2nd leg
February 21: Hungary–France, Women’s World League
February 25: Women’s Euro League, quarter-final 1st leg
March 1: Hannover (Germany)–Eger, Brescia (Italy)–OSC, Nice (France)–Szolnok, Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
March 11: Women’s Euro League, quarter-final 2nd leg
March 22: Recco (Italy)–Eger, OSC–Spandau (Germany), Szolnok–Brescia (Italy), Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
April 5: Eger–Partizan (Serbia), Olympiakos (Greece)–Szolnok, OSC–Nice (France), Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
April 14–15: Women’s Euro Cup Final Four
April 19: Italy–Hungary, Women’s World League
April 26: Eger–Dubrovnik (Croatia), Szolnok–OSC, Men’s Champions League, group-stage matches
April 28–29: Women’s Euro League Final Four
May 25–27: Men’s Champions League Final Six, Dagály Swimming Complex, Budapest
June 6–11: Women’s World League, Super Final
June 20–25: Men’s World League, Super Final
July 14–30: 17. FINA World Championship, Budapest
August 7–20: 17. FINA Masters World Championship, Budapest
August 20–27: Women’s Junior European Championship, Belgrade
September 3–9: Women’s Junior World Championship, Volos
September 10–17: Men’s Junior European Championship, Gzira, Malta

Photo: MTI

January 8, 2017

Szolnoki Dózsa-Közgép win the final of the BENU Hungarian Cup

Szolnoki Dózsa-Közgép recorded their fifth cup win by defeating ZF-Eger 10-4 in the final of the BENU Hungarian Cup. Sándor Cseh believes his side played sensationally, and said he was immensely proud of his team’s achievement. BENU Hungarian Cup final post-match reaction.

”I of course keep track of our cup victories, albeit there isn’t so many to make it that difficult a task. We were unsuccessful last year, and it still rankles somewhat” said Szolnok’s Olympic champion centre Gábor Kis following the convincing cup final victory.

Head coach Sándor Cseh was understandably happy with the performances of his centre pairing of Gábor Kis and Tamás Mezei. “We played a sensational match, first and foremost our defence was fantastic and we also attacked well for long periods. We slowed the tempo on purpose in the final quarter and yet we still scored ten. There are days when everything comes off; it’s a fantastic feeling to win a final and I’m very proud of my team. This is my fifth final and the fourth one I’ve won, it feels like being a kid in a candy shop. I look forward to every match, but especially cup finals. I couldn’t be happier!”

Andrija Prlainović chalked up his first success with the club, chipping in with one goal and watching on as his compatriot Milan Aleksić scored three. “I believe Szolnok is the best team in Hungary and we’ve proved that today. Perhaps there isn’t really a six goal difference between the two teams; indeed, there certainly isn’t, but we won by that margin today, and that was a fair reflection of the play” said the Serbian defender.

The Szolnok celebrations were still going strong by the time runners-up Eger left the pool for their changing room. The injury-hit cup-holders had given their all but come up short against a simply superb Szolnok.

”I hope I’ll be better this evening and that my high temperature doesn’t get worse like it did on Saturday when I came down with fever following the semi-final” said Eger captain Branislav Mitrović. “However, if I focus on this or talk more of it, it will look like an excuse, and I really don’t want it to come across that way. I gave my all”.

Eger coach Norbert Dabrowski had spoken on Saturday about wanting to win the final for Dániel Angyal, who was injured on Thursday but it wasn’t to be, injuries and two matches in two days exhausting the team and leaving them with too little in the tank to contain Szolnok.

“Szolnok were quicker in every department; they were fresher than us” said Norbert Dabrowski. “We held firm as long as we could. We attacked and tried to get to within a goal but didn’t succeed; that was our last hope we could grasp on to. The truth is that if we’d carried on playing until Monday morning, we still wouldn’t have won”.

BENU Hungarian Cup final:

ZF-Eger 4–10 Szolnoki Dózsa-Közgép (0–1, 3–4, 1–2, 0–3)

Tüskeuszoda, match officials: T. Molnár, P. Molnár.

Eger: B. Mitrović – Decker Á., Hosnyánszky 1, Lőrincz 1, Miloš Ćuk, Erdélyi 1, Hárai. Replacements: Kürti, Čučković, Kovács Gergő, Vapenski 1, Bedő Biros B. Head coach: Norbert Dabrowski

Szolnok: Nagy V. – Gocić 1, Vámos 2, Mezei, Prlainović 1, Varga Dénes 1, Jansik D. Replacements: Szatmári, Hangay Z., Aleksić 3, Younger 2, Kis G. Fülöp, Kardos G. (goalkeeper). Head coach: Sándor Cseh

Photo: MTI

December 21, 2016

The new head coach of the Hungarian water polo team

The Hungarian Water Polo Association announced Tamás Märcz as the new head coach of the men’s water polo team after their board meeting on Thursday (Dec 15), writes index.hu.

The board members present at the meeting on December 15 chose the new head coach of the Hungarian men’s water polo team through secret voting. Out of the 13 applicants

Igor Milanovics, Teodor Haciteodor, Sándor Cseh, Norbert Dabrowski, Rajmund Fodor, András Gyöngyösi, Dénes Lukács, Tamás Märcz, Zoltán Szécsi, Gyula Tóth, Lajos Vad, László Vidumanszkiy, Balázs Vincze

Tamás Märcz was chosen to take the post, who was informed by the decision and officially asked for accepting the captain position from Dénes Kemény, former captain. Kemény also told the site that it was a tough decision to make, as the applicants all submitted great tenders.

The parties need to successfully agree on the conditions of the contract, and then, from January 1 2017, Tamás Märcz will be the head coach of the Hungarian national men’s water polo team. Notably, he was member of the team when they won the Olympics in Sydney. Later, he received Italian citizenship too, and played in the Italian team in 2012.

[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/three-time-olympic-champion-hungarian-water-polo-players-international-swimming-hall-fame/” newwindow=”yes”] Hungary’s Olympic Champion water polo players are in the International Swimming Hall of Fame[/button]

Then he came back to Hungary in 2013 and now won the opportunity to lead the water polo team. The website of the Association quotes him saying that being chosen for such a post is a great honour for him, especially in such a country, with huge traditions and great former captains. Furthermore, as an ambitious person, he really looks forward to the job and will try his best.

Märcz intends to hold a training for the members of the national team in the first week of January, and hopes to be able to come to terms with the clubs regarding the date of the training and the clubs’ schedules. Currently, he is also the main coach of BVSC, which position he can keep until the end of the season.

Moreover, as the head coach of the most significant water polo nation, he has big goals, including aiming for victory, regardless of the nature of the match, whether it is friendly or the final in the Olympics. He also said that the head coach is under continuous pressure, but he is fine with that burden.

His first significant tournament will be no other than the FINA World Championships, held in Budapest next year, for which he aims for the best and therefore intends to beat even the strongest rivals. Besides, the creating of his professional staff is already in process, and their list will be published soon.

Photo: facebook.com/waterpolo.hu

Copy editor: bm

December 16, 2016

Water Polo – Thirteen apply for Hungary men’s head coach role

Friday lunchtime’s deadline for applications to become the next head coach of the Hungarian men’s national team has now passed, thirteen names appearing on the list of those wishing to be considered for the post.

[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/coach-tibor-benedek-leave-water-polo-national-team/” color=”lightblue” newwindow=”yes”] Related article: COACH TIBOR BENEDEK TO LEAVE THE WATER POLO NATIONAL TEAM[/button]

Amongst the 13 candidates there are Hungarians working in Hungary and abroad as well as interest from foreigners located in other countries. This weekend sees plenty of European club fixtures taking place so names will only be divulged next week if at all.
“At the most recent meeting of the presidential board”, president Dénes Kemény stated the canditates would be contacted upon arrival of their applications which would also be received by the members of the presidential board”, the Hungarian Water Polo Association’s general secretary Máté Hesz said.

“The next meeting of these members on 15th December will address the question of the next head coach and there they will decide how that person will be appointed, whether it be by open or private vote and in all certainty which candidate will be selected”, Hesz continued.

Photo: facebook.com/waterpolo.hu

December 10, 2016

President Áder remembers Hungary’s 1956 Olympic victory in Melbourne

Melbourne, November 7 (MTI) – President Janos Áder remembered the victory of the Hungarian water polo team against the Soviet team during the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 at an event commemorating the failed anti-Soviet uprising on Monday.

The Olympic victory revealed that under equal terms, even those can win that are otherwise prevented to do so by global powers, Áder said in Melbourne’s Hungarian Centre at the first stop of his week-long visit in Australia and New Zealand.

Even though the Soviet army crushed the Hungarian revolution in November 1956, Hungarians’ wish for freedom could not be eradicated and resistance remained strong for quite some time. A silent strike was held on November 23 and hundreds of armed freedom fighters were hiding in the Mecsek hills, he added.

[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/three-time-olympic-champion-hungarian-water-polo-players-international-swimming-hall-fame/” newwindow=”yes”] Related article: THE THREE TIME OLYMPIC CHAMPION HUNGARIAN WATER POLO PLAYERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME[/button]

Áder said Melbourne became an important place for Hungary’s freedom fight because by the time of the Olympics, armed resistance weakened in Hungary, and the Hungarian water polot team fought in the final in the awareness that victory could carry a message.

“They had to win and they won indeed”, Áder said.

November 7, 2016

The three time Olympic champion Hungarian water polo players in the International Swimming Hall of Fame

Vlv.hu writes that the six iconic Hungarian water polo players who won three Olympic gold medals in a row in Sydney, Athens and Beijing as part of the men’s water polo team were enrolled to the immortals of water sports in Santa Clara, USA.

Dénes Kemény, the coach of the three time Olympic champion team who was already “enrolled” in 2011, also attended the International Swimming Hall of Fame celebration, which was held last Saturday night.

The immortals were gifted with a smaller trophy and a band that represents their glory. The successful sportsmen joined historic Hungarian water polo players like Tamás Faragó, Dezső Gyarmati, Olivér Halassy, Márton Homonnay, György Kárpáti, Dénes Kemény, Béla Komjádi, Dezső Lemhényi, Kálmán Markovits, Mihály Mayer, János Németh, István Szívós, István Szívós Sr and András Zólyomi with this great honour.

Tibor Benedek: “I am very happy and proud that the six of us were honoured at the same time. I am especially happy that all of us could be here and share this experience. Naturally the other 15 people, who are “only” two time or one time Olympic champions, the whole crew and Dénes Kemény are also part of this success.”

Péter Biros: “The celebration was a fantastic experience, another great memory at the end of my sport career. I think we only realised it now how glorious and big it was to win three Olympic Games, and to top it all we did it in a row. I had more time to think about this since my retirement, and it really seems like a huge achievement.”

Tamás Kásás: “Another acknowledgement which reminds me of the historic successes I was able to achieve with these great men. I am proud of the 17 years I spent in the Hungarian national team. I want to thank all of the great players and trainers who accompanied me on this amazing path.”

Gergely Kiss: “When you hear about celebrities being awarded with similar honours you don’t really think that this could happen to you as well. At the same time, I believe that the winning of awards can’t be the ultimate goal of a true sportsmen. What is important to me is that I could be the part of this community and we lived through all the hardships, fun times and successes together.”

Tamás Molnár: “Joining a circle like this, which represents the whole water sport community, is a huge honour. Not to mention that 21 players contributed to the three Olympic gold medals, but only the six of us could be here. If we look at the names of iconic Hungarians who are part of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, then I believe that this is the greatest achievement we could’ve asked for except for our results in the pool.”

Zoltán Szécsi: “This is a real honour, I don’t even know how many goal keepers are there among the immortal water polo players. However, I know that I am the only three time Olympic champion goal keeper and this feels especially heart-warming.”

Photos: www.facebook.com/KissGergely

Copy editor: bm

October 30, 2016

Coach Tibor Benedek to leave the water polo national team

The head coach of Hungary’s men’s national team has decide not to seek a renewal of his contract.

It’s the end of an era for the men’s national team with the iminent exit of Tibor Benedek, head coach since 2013. Mr Benedek has made this statement:

“In recent weeks I’ve sized up the period we’ve just left behind us having held several discussions with MVLSZ President Dénes Kemény. I would like to thank him and the entire leadership of the waterpolo association for their work and trust in recent years. I also thank my coaching staff and the players for their work too. From 1st January I will not be carrying out the head coach’s tasks”.

This all means that Benedek, who won the 2013 World Championship, 2014 European Championship silver medal and 2016 European hampionship bronze medal as head coach of Hungary, will depart the national-team setup when his contract expires on 31st December this year.

The MVLSZ will hold its general meeting on 22nd October and the presidium finalised there will decide during the autumn who will become the new head coach.

October 21, 2016

Hungary wins gold and bronze at the 2016 Heliopolis International Water Polo Championship

Since 1990, in order to improve its water polo players’ performance, the Egyptian Club of Heliopolis Sporting (HSC) has hosted the International Water Polo Championship, including international clubs like Serbia and Hungary, which are considered some of the world’s best.

This year’s championship was the 25th edition. It started the 11th of October and ended on the 15th of the same month.

In addition to the HSC, which represented Egypt, countries that sent water polo teams were Greece, represented by Panathinaikos Club, and Hungary, represented by both clubs of KSI and Honvéd.

KSI lost all the matches except its last match against the Egyptian club, where the result was 12-11 in favor of the Hungarian club. This victory enabled the Hungarian club to win the bronze medal.

The best team was the Hungarian club of Honvéd. The team won all the matches it played. Its final match was against the Greek club, where the victory was for the Hungarian team. Thus Honvéd won the championship’s gold medal, and the silver one went for the Greek team.

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/honvedvizilabda

October 17, 2016

Water polo: Bujka not one for giving up the fight

Barbara Bujka made the Olympic women’s water polo dream team but feels only emptiness and anger at missing out on a medal. She isn’t giving up though and already has her sights on Tokyo in 2020. She also hopes that the women’s water polo team can build upon its fourth place in Rio come next year’s World Championship.

One of the most enduring images of the women’s water polo team from Rio is of Barbara Bujka comforting teammate Rita Keszthelyi following the team’s defeat against Russia which saw them miss out on bronze. We caught up with Bujka after the match and when asked where she had the strength to comfort the others when she herself was suffering, she replied that “I felt at the time that I had to do it; I simply followed my heart. Love cures all as they say, and I loved being part of the team in Rio”.

As to how she felt personally, she said:

“I’m not the happiest person in the world, that’s for sure” she said. “I feel emptiness; emptiness and anger. It was the most brutal, the most painful way to lose out on a medal; we were seconds away, for a time I couldn’t process it all. If I’m being honest I still can’t. No matter how close we were to a medal I never for once felt during the match that one was in my possession. People say that you only begin to really appreciate things once you’ve lost them. This is how I look at it: we lost, that’s all. It’s another question as to how much disappointment and anger the defeat causes, because it didn’t have to happen the way it did. You can’t let a two goal lead slip at the end at this level: all this proves is that we didn’t deserve to win. I can search for reasons but the fact is they didn’t win the match, we lost it. This is where the anger stems from”.

Bujka speaks of the being a huge difference between third and fourth place. “Back at home a medal would be much more acceptable than coming fourth and that’s understandable. Many have already talked about next year’s World Championship in Budapest but it’s too early; I don’t want to think about that just yet. I need to digest what happened at the Olympics and also rest”.

As to the Games themselves, Bujka believes that “many have talked about how many problems there were but everyone enjoyed it. The Brazilians are direct, relaxed. I’m not saying it was a perfect Olympics but if people accept things which aren’t worth getting worked up about then it was good. The competition itself didn’t bring any surprises; the top seven sides know each other inside out, it’s difficult to surprise anyone”.

Looking to the future, our last question before the team left Rio for home was about Tokyo 2020. The reply?

“A fighter keeps battling and doesn’t give up until they’ve reached their goal”.

Photo: MTI

August 26, 2016

Water polo – Szolnok retain championship title

Four-goal Norbert Madaras was instrumental for the hosts as Sándor Cseh’s Szolnok triumphed 10-8 in the fifth match of the E.ON men’s championship final series to keep hold of the championship title they won last year.

Both teams entered the arena knowing that it was now or never: there would be no more opportunities, no more matches to come; the 2015/16 championship would be decided once and for all. The atmosphere was electric; the arena packed full an hour before the start, and – three-time Olympic champion, world champion and European champion – Péter Biros, playing his last championship match before retiring from the pool, received a standing ovation from both sets of supporters. On a more poignant note, a minute’s silence was then held for Sándor Tarics, the 102 year-old former Olympic water polo champion who passed away last weekend, before the teams got down to business.

The hosts would get off to a perfect start, Norbert Madaras scoring as Szolnok took the lead for the first time in the final since the first match, some 99 minutes in all – the second match was decided on penalties after all. By the end of the first quarter they would be three goals ahead, Madaras doubling their lead from an advantage, Gergő Zalánki reducing the deficit and then Dénes Varga and Aaron Younger on target. It could have been different had Uroš Čučković and then Márton Szivós made the best of the opportunities which came their way, but the score stood at 4-1 after the opening period.

Szolnok’s early lead would prove telling, the team immediately loosing the nervousness which had crept into their play as Eger game back in games two and three. It became Eger’s time to doubt, failing to capitalise when a man-up although they did bring the score back to 4-2 through Krisztián Bedő. Tamás Mezei, Balázs Hárai, Vámos and the masked Miloš Ćuk were then all off target and Branislav Mitrović called into action twice from fierce Madaras shots, but the score would remain unchanged as the teams broke for half-time.

The third quarter saw an early penalty goal apiece, first Dániel Varga scoring for Szolnok and then Zalánki hitting home a rebound for Eger after Hárai had hit the woodwork with his five metre shot. Chances were missed and advantages squandered, but Szolnok would soon ease four goals clear, the veteran Madaras notching his hat-trick and Norbert Hosnyánszky also getting in on the act. Stefan Mitrović and Balázs Erdélyi did succeed in bringing Eger back to 7-5 but there was always the feeling that the game was just out of reach, Madaras’ fourth goal of the evening reinforcing that sentiment as the teams went into the final break with the score at 8-5.

The final quarter was a case of tit-for-tat, Eger twice getting back to within two goals through Hosnyánszky and a fine Biros effort, but twice Szolnok would reply to go three goals clear as Dániel Varga and Milan Aleksić all but secured the title before Hárai grabbed a late consolation for Eger. Szolnok would not be denied though, running out 10-8 winners to retain their title.

Season awards:
Goalkeeper of the season: Viktor Nagy
Player of the season: Dénes Varga

Result – E. ON men’s OB I. championship, final, 5th match
Szolnoki Dózsa-Közgép 10–8 ZF-Eger (4–1, 0–1¸ 4–3, 2–3)
Szolnok Aréna, 1100 spectators. Referees: B. Székely, A. Németh

SZOLNOK: Nagy V. – Gočić, Madaras 4, Vámos, Dániel Varga 1, Varga Dénes 2, G. Kis. Substitutes: Fülöp, Mezei, Aleksić 1, Younger 1, S. Mitrović 1, D. Jansik. Head coach: Sándor Cseh

EGER: B. Mitrović – Angyal, Hosnyánszky 2, Erdélyi 1, Vapenski, Bedő 1, Biros P. 1. Substitutes: Zalánki 2, Čučković, Lőrincz, M. Ćuk, Szivós, Hárai 1. Head coach: Norbert Dabrowski

Szolnok win 3-2.

Photo: MTI

May 29, 2016

The world’s oldest Olympic champion 103-year-old Sándor Tarics passed away peacefully in his home in the US

The 1936 Berlin Olympics gold medalist water polo player celebrated his 100th birthday on September 23, 2013. At the occasion, he was greeted by Bence Szabo, the Secretary General of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, and Dénes Kemény the President of the Hungarian Water Polo Association in his home in Belvedere, California.

Since August 2, 2011 he has been the oldest Olympic champion in the world.

In his final year, he was wheelchair-bound, but he was intellectually active until the last moment of his life. In his final years, he turned to mathematics and investigated challenging mathematical problems.

Sándor Tarics was born in Budapest on September 23, 1913. From 1929 he was a member of KISOK (National Centre for High School Sports Circles), and from 1932 to 1945 of the Hungarian Athletic Club (MAC). He was a member of the Hungarian National Water Polo team between 1933 and 1940 and a member of the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympics gold medal winning team; he was the winner of three college world championships as well.

He emigrated to the United States in 1949, where he worked as an architect designing earthquake-resistant buildings. Due to his patents, thousands of earthquake-resistant buildings were built around the world in the past decades. Tarics developed a structure, which absorbs the power of earthquakes, which could be applied to the construction of tall buildings, skyscrapers, and bridges as well.

“We are very proud that a Hungarian water polo player was the oldest Olympic Champion in the world, whom we all respected and liked a lot. It was a great honor that I could visit and greet him at his 100th birthday in his home. I think any of us would be happy to live such a long life. God rest his soul!” wrote the President of the Hungarian Water Polo Association Dénes Kemény in a death farewell massage on the Hungarian Water Polo Association website.

Sándor Tarics had a wonderful sense of humor as well. At age 93 he said this: “When I wake up in the morning, I browse the obituaries from the newspapers and if I’m not on the list I get on with my business.”

translated by hungarianambiance.com

May 23, 2016

UVSE retain Hungary’s Women Water Polo League title

In a tense encounter Dunaújváros fought their way to an 8-8 draw in the third match of the women’s championship final, but UVSE were not to be denied in the ensuing penalty shoot-out and are champions again having gone the whole season unbeaten.

With the first two championship final matches throwing up tense, enthralling encounters that were eventually won by the reigning champions, there was a good chance that the third match at the Hajós Alfréd Uszoda on Saturday would see UVSE crowned champions once again, even if they had to do without the services of the suspended Hanna Kisteleki.

UVSE forged a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, albeit it took them time to get on the scoresheet; Rita Keszthelyi hitting the woodwork from a five-metre penalty in the fifth minute before young winger Szonja Kuna broke the deadlock and then doubled UVSE’s lead moments later in the seventh. Keszthelyi made amends not long after as the title-holders took a firm grip on proceedings.

Dunaújváros scored early in the second period through Krisztina Garda and Vanda Vályi got them back in the match at 3-2 before Keszthelyi – who else? – replied to make it 4-2. Dóra Csabai scored a fifth for the hosts in the last minute of the quarter though to dash Dunaújváros hopes, UVSE leading 5-2 at half-time.

Ildikó Tóth extended UVSE’s lead to 6-2 early in the third, only for Dorottya Szilágyi to peg them back to 6-3 from a player-advantage situation and soon Dunaújváros were at 6-4. Gabriella Szűcs’ shot in off the post once again appeared to give the hosts some breathing space as they completed the third quarter 7-4 ahead.

With nothing to lose, Dunaújváros threw caution to the wind in the final quarter, first Menczinger firing home to make it 7-5. She then brought the score to 7-6 with a fine strike but UVSE appeared home and dry at 8-6 when Dóra Antal shot in off the post. With UVSE not able to take advantage of another player-advantage situation, Dunaújváros drew level with a late flourish, first Fruzsina Brávik finding the net and then Szilágyi scoring from an advantage to level things at 8-8 with 47 seconds left and take the game to penalties.

Szűcs shot against the woodwork for the hosts but Szilágyi did the same for Dunaújváros and with Gangl saving Horváth’s shot, it meant Antal could throw for victory, which she duly did.

Bertalan Áts’ team therefore retain their championship title undefeated.

Result – Women’s OB I. Championship, final, 3rd match:

UVSE 8-8 Dunaújvárosi Egyetem Maarsk Graphics (3-0, 2-2, 2-2, 1-4) – five metre penalties: 4-2

Hajós-uszoda, 500 spectators, referees: György Kun, Gabriella Várkonyi

UVSE: Gangl – Antal 1, Szücs 1, Csabai 1, Kövesdi, Keszthelyi 2, Tóth I. 1. Repalcements: Takács V., Kuna 2, Hertzka. Head coach: Bertalan Áts

Dunaújváros: Kasó – Menczinger 2, Szilágyi 2, Gurisatti, Horváth B., Garda 1, Somhegyi. Replacements: Vályi F., Brávik 1, Vályi V. 1, Ziegler, Mchunu. Head coach: Mihók Attila

UVSE win 3-0

Title-winning squad members: Dóra Antal, Réka Aranyi, Dóra Csabai, Edina Gangl, Matilda Gerendás, Orsolya Hertzka, Rita Keszthelyi, Eszter Lara Kiss, Hanna Kisteleki, Krisztina Koncsag, Vivien Kövesdi, Szonja Kuna, Anna Mandula Mucsy, Gabriella Szücs, Vivien Takács, Tóth Ildikó, Vivien Vogt. Head coach: Bertalan Áts

Championship final standings:

1. UVSE

2. Dunaújvárosi Egyetem-Maarsk Graphics

3. BVSC-Zugló-Diapolo

4. Hungerit-Szentes

5. ZF-Eger-EKF

6. Szegedi Vízmű-Taylor&Nash-Szegedi Egyetem

7. Tatabánya

8. UVSE-Margitsziget

9. Kópé-ÚVSE

10. Kecskeméti Sportiskola

Photo: MTI

May 16, 2016

Water polo – Rio match schedule announced

FINA has announced the official schedule for the aquatic sports events at this summer’s Rio Olympics. Both the men’s and women’s teams start of at 09:00am local time.

The official match schedule is available on the FINA website, alongside that of all other aquatic sports such as the diving, synchronised swimming and swimming events.

The Olympic water polo competition begins on 6th August, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon CET with Hungary contesting the opening match with Serbia in the men’s event.

Two days later it’s a night-time game against Australia which starts at 1:50 am, just as the fourth game, which his against Japan does.

The women’s team also start at 2 o’clock in the afternoon Hungarian time against China.

The men’s final is at 22:50 in the evening on 20th August, the women’s final is at 20:30 in the evening on the 19th.

Men’s group matches:

Saturday 6th August:

Serbia – Hungary – 09:00 local time (Hungarian time: 14:00)

Monday 8th August:

Hungary – Australia – 20:50 (Hungarian time: 9th August 01:50)

Wednesday 10th August:

Greece – Hungary – 10:20 (Hungarian time: 15:20)

Friday 12th August:

Hungary – Japan – 20:50 (Hungarian time: 13th August 01:50)

Sunday 14th August:

Brazil – Hungary – 20:50 (Hungarian time: 14th August 01:50)

Men’s final: 20th August – 17:50 (Hungarian time: 22:50)

Women’s group matches:

Tuesday 9th August:

Hungary – China – 09:00 (Hungarian time: 14:00)

Thursday 11th August:

Spain – Hungary – 13:00 (Hungarian time: 18.00)

Saturday 13th August:

Hungary – USA – 13.00 (Hungarian time: 18.00)

Women’s final: 19th August – 15:30 (Hungarian time: 20:30)

Photo: MTI

May 15, 2016