The opening ceremony of the 19th Mediterranean Games in Oran (Algeria) will be held this evening, but the water polo tournament has already started
There is no age limit for the participants in the Mediterranean Games, but the U18 teams play at the water polo tournament since the World Championships are taking place in Budapest.
Nine male teams participate in the tournament. They are split into two groups. There is no competition for ladies this year.
After the group stage, the top two teams will advance to the semifinals.
On the first two competition days, six games were played.
The most exciting match so far has been an encounter between Spain and Greece. After a close battle, Spain recorded a 12:11 victory scoring a winner from a penalty shot with 48 seconds to go.
Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, and Slovenia opened the tournament with convincing wins. After a loss to Montenegro on Day 1, France beat Portugal today. Slovenia defeated Portugal in the opening match, but it suffered a heavy defeat to Serbia today.
Serbia is the reigning champion. The Serbs won the gold medal, ahead of Greece and Montenegro at the previous Mediterranean Games, held in Tarragona (Spain) in 2018. But, four years ago, senior teams competed.
2022 Mediterranean Games
Group A
Day 1
Greece – Spain 11:12 (2:2, 2:4, 4:2, 3:4)
Turkey – Italy 2:13 (1:2, 1:4, 0:2, 0:5)
Standings: 1. Italy 2 pts, 2. Spain 2, 3. Greece 0, 4. Turkey 0.
Group B
Day 1
France – Montenegro 8:16 (2:4, 2:4, 1:4, 3:4)
Slovenia – Portugal 18:5 (5:0, 5:1, 4:2, 4:2)
Day 2
Portugal – France 10:15 (2:2, 1:4, 3:4, 4:5)
Serbia – Slovenia 22:6 (3;2, 3:2, 7:1, 9:1)
Standings: 1. Serbia 2 (1 match), 2. Montenegro 2 (1), 3. Slovenia 2 (2), 4. France 2 (2), 5. Portugal 0 (1)
