The Australian women’s water polo team to contest this month’s FINA World League Finals in the USA has been announced, with the 13-strong squad containing three WAIS scholarship athletes.
Gemma Beadsworth, Glencora McGhie and Zoe Arancini – who were all members of the Stingers squad that rounded out a 3-0 Test series win over China in Perth this week – will line-up for the Australians as they look to go one better than the silver medal they claimed at last year’s edition in Shanghai, after losing 8-7 to the USA.
The US remain Australia’s sternest challenge on its quest to win a first Olympic title since Sydney 2000, where the Australians won a thrilling final against the Americans with literally the last action of the match.
The USA has avenged that defeat at numerous Olympic and World Championship campaigns subsequent, and the two nations are again expected to duel for success at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Stingers head coach Greg McFadden believes the World League campaign will provide his squad with an invaluable opportunity to test its wares against the world’s best in the lead up to the Olympic Games.
“We don’t get many international games so this will be a significant one for us as part of our Rio preparation,” he said.
“The USA and Canada are yet to qualify for Rio and have their Olympic qualification tournament coming up, so you can bet they will be coming out strong,” McFadden added.
Australia will be joined in the World League tournament by hosts USA, along with Brazil, China, Canada and Japan. The World League Finals start on February 16 with the medal rounds concluding on February 21.
