Water Polo Australia’s long road to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games will begin in earnest in January when the Aussie Sharks and Stingers both take on world-class opposition at the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series in Perth.
Featuring water polo, swimming and open water swimming events in a three-day extravaganza from January 18-20, the series will see the Aussie Sharks men’s team taking on 2012 London Olympic champions Croatia and the Aussie Stingers women’s team shaping up against China in a one-off test match.
It will be the first official international fixtures for the Sharks and Stingers since they finished seventh and third respectively in London in August.
Water Polo Australia’s High Performance Manager Tom Hill said by securing the Croatian and Chinese national teams to play Australia in home waters, the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series had gained instant credibility in the global water polo community.
“It is a tremendous coup for the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series to be able to attract the newly crowned Olympic champions, Croatia, to play our men’s team and the strong Chinese women to take on the Aussie Stingers,” Hill said.
“It’s often hard to get European teams of Croatia’s quality and standing down to Australia so this is a fairly unique opportunity for the Aussie Sharks and I am sure the other big European nations will be watching.
“Over the last four or five years our women have started to form a strong rivalry with China, including playing the quarter-final many thought was the game of the London Olympics, that Australia eventually won in a penalty shoot-out.
“The BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series is such an exciting concept and there is no doubt these two water polo games will further enhance the spectacle.”
Both the Sharks and Stingers have seen several of their big name players retire following London, something Hill believes will only motivate the next crop of youngsters as they look towards Rio.
“We had a couple of four-time Olympians and a pair of triple Olympians retire after London as well as a few others that may be taking an extended break from the sport and that creates opportunities for some younger players,” Hill said.
“The BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series games will give a number of players that didn’t go to London the chance to signal their intentions to be part of our senior national squads all the way to the Rio Olympic Games and that can only be a positive.
“I see no better way for players to grab the attention of the national coaches than playing well in a noisy Challenge Stadium against Croatia or China.”
The Aussie Stingers will take on China at 8.30pm on Friday January 18 before the Aussie Sharks battle the might of the Croatians at 3.30pm on Saturday January 19.
Tickets for the BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.au and for more information please go to www.aquaticsuperseries.com.au
– Water Polo Australia
