Russia joined the circle of countries, in which the water polo season won’t be completed in the pools.
Today, the Presidium of the Russian Water Polo Federation announced that the leagues wouldn’t be continued. But, the Russian Federation didn’t cancel the championships. The current standings will be valid as the final rankings.
Sintez, Kazan (men) and Kinef-Surgutneftegas (women) were atop of their respective leagues before the suspension.
The coronavirus epidemic has spread rapidly in Russia in the last several days. The number of newly registered cases is bigger than 10.000 per day since May 2nd. To date, there is a total of 232.243 registered coronavirus cases with 2.116 deaths and 43.512 recovered patients.
Final standings of the Russian leagues
Men: 1. Sintez, Kazan 47 pts (24 games), 2. Spartak, Volgograd 43 (24), 3. Dynamo, Moscow 29 (24), 5. Baltika, Sankt Petersburg 20 (24), 5. Astana – Kazakhstan 20 (22), 6. Shturm 2002 12 (24), 7. Dynamo SSHOR 12 (22), 8. COP Moskomsporta 5 (24).
Women: 1. KINEF-Surgutneftegas , Kirishi 28 (15), 2. Dynamo Uralochka, Zlatoust 22 (15), 3. Spartak, Volgograd 16 (15), 4. SKIF-COP Moskomsporta 13 (15), 5. UGRA, Khanty-Mansiysk 11 (15), 6. Diana, Saint Petersburg 0 (15).
Serbian clubs and Federation on the same wavelength
Better water polo news is coming from the Balkans. The Serbian clubs want to finish the season in the pools, but the final decision hasn’t been made yet.
The meeting between the officials of the Water Polo Federation of Serbia and the representatives of the clubs which compete in the Super League was held in Belgrade today.
The Federation and the clubs are unanimous regarding the possible resummation of the competitions. It was concluded that the Federation and the clubs want to continue the league by the planned competition system. Of course, health is in the first place. So, everything depends on the epidemic situation (which is under control in Serbia now – the state of emergency has been lifted).
The Water Polo Federation of Serbia will make decisions related to the competition during the following weeks, depending on the development of the situation.
But, the clubs have to overcome several problems. Almost all Serbian water polo clubs have had financial troubles for a while. During the pandemic, that situation became worse. On Monday, the Serbian Government allowed team training sessions, with strict protective measures. But, many of the pools are still closed. Still, most of the water polo clubs are optimistic and believe that the league will be played.
Ten teams compete in the Serbian Super League. They are split into two groups (the group for the title 1st-6th place and the group for places 7th-10th), according to the mutual results of the Serbian clubs in the Regional League and to the standings in the First „A“ Serbian League.
But, the composition of the groups still hasn’t been determined. The composition depends on the result of the game Zemun-Nais, which was scheduled for March 21st. But, the encounter was canceled after the coronavirus emergency was declared. Zemun needs a point in that match to reach the group for places 1st-6th. Nais must win to reach the higher group of the Super League.
Composition of the Serbian Super League 2019/20
Group 1st-6th place (the group for the title): Crvena Zvezda, Sabac, Partizan, Radnicki Kragujevac, Vojvodina and Zemun or Nais.
Group 7th – 10th place: Novi Beograd, Stari Grad, Banjica, and Nais or Zemun.
As for Montenegro, the Federation still hasn’t made a decision on the championships. But, the national team of Montenegro, the bronze medal winner at the 2020 European Championships, started preparations in the indoor pool in Herceg Novi on Monday. One more information should encourage water polo lovers in Montenegro. Today, the champion of Montenegro Jadran Herceg Novi, and this club’s youth teams, also, started to train. They work in the outdoor pool in Herceg Novi.
Last week, the Croatian Water Polo Federation determined the dates of the league.
The representatives of the Croatian state and health authorities met with the president of the Water Polo Federation Perica Bukic today. The Croatian Water Polo Federation received permission to start the season on June 24th (as it is scheduled), if the situation with the epidemic does not get worse dramatically. The national teams can start their preparations after May 25th.
