The official draw for the water polo competition at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou has been made.
The Asian Games water polo competition will take place at the Huanglong Sports Centre Swimming & Diving Centre, spanning from September 24 to October 8. Originally slated for September 10 to 25, 2022, the Games were rescheduled to 2023 on May 6, 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hangzhou will become the third Chinese city to host the prestigious Asian Games, following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.
These championships represent more than just regional pride, though as the victors of the gold medals will earn a spot in the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.
You might have heard of the Asian Games, and/or the Asian Water Polo Championships, but be wondering what the difference is between the two distinct competitions. Asian Games Water Polo Competition The Asian Games is a multi-sport event held every four years, similar to the Olympic Games, but for countries in Asia. The water polo competition at the Games is one of many sports featured in the event which is a larger and more prestigious event, attracting a wider range of participating countries and receiving more media coverage. Importantly, at present, the Asian Games is essentially the continents’ Olympic Qualifying event. Asian Water Polo Championships The Asian Water Polo Championships are a standalone water polo tournament focused specifically on water polo, much like the Water Polo European Championships. This championship is held separately from the Asian Games and occurs more frequently, typically every 2-3 years (with a break between 2016-2022). Unlike the Asian Games, the Asian water polo Championships attracts a more concentrated group of water polo teams from Asia, specifically those with a focus on water polo development. While the Asian Water Polo Championships may not have the same level of recognition or media attention as the Asian Games, they are still important for the development and promotion of water polo in the Asian region.
In the men’s event, Japan stands as the frontrunner for the Olympic qualification. Yet, they are likely to encounter strong competition from the reigning Asian Games champions of 2018, Kazakhstan, and the current victors of the 2023 Asian Water Polo Championship, China, both of whom have been placed in Group A.
For the women’s category, the host nation China, fresh from securing a gold medal at the Universiade, holds a prominent position in the race to clinch an Olympic berth. Notably, in Fukuoka, only one place separated Asia’s top teams, with China finishing 13th, Japan following in 14th place, and Kazakhstan closing in 15th. The allocation of teams in the women’s competition was determined based on the outcomes of the Asian Championships 2022, as no formal draw took place.
Men’s Tournament – Draw
Group A – South Korea, Thailand, China, Iran
Group B – Singapore, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Japan
Women’s Tournament – Draw
Preliminary Group – China, Kazakhstan, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong
Qualification for Paris 2024 Olympics – Men’s Tournament
| Qualification | Date | Host | Berths | Qualified Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host country | — | – | 1 | France |
| 2023 World Aquatics Championships | 16–29 July 2023 | Japan Fukuoka | 2 | Hungary Greece |
| 2022 Asian Games | 23 September – 8 October 2023 | China Hangzhou | 1 | |
| 2023 Pan American Games | 22–28 October 2023 | Chile Santiago | 1 | |
| 2024 European Championships | 3–16 January 2024 | Israel Netanya | 1 | |
| 2024 World Aquatics Championships | 2–18 February 2024 | Qatar Doha | 4 | |
| 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Africa | — | 1 | ||
| 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Oceania | — | 1 | ||
| Total | 12 |
Qualification for Paris 2024 Olympics – Women’s Tournament
| Qualification | Date | Host | Berths | Qualified Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Host country | — | – | 1 | France |
| 2023 World Aquatics Championships | 16–29 July 2023 | Japan Fukuoka | 2 | Netherlands Spain |
| 2023 Oceanian Qualifier Series | 11 – 12 August 2023 | New Zealand Auckland | 1 | Australia |
| 2022 Asian Games | 23 September – 8 October 2023 | China Hangzhou | 1 | |
| 2023 Pan American Games | 22–28 October 2023 | Chile Santiago | 1 | |
| 2024 European Championships | 3–16 January 2024 | Israel Netanya | 1 | |
| 2024 World Aquatics Championships | 2–18 February 2024 | Qatar Doha | 2 | |
| 2024 World Aquatics Championships – Africa | — | 1 | ||
| Total | 10 |
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