A week after the draw for the Olympic qualifications, the list of the participants or the women’s Olympic qualification tournament in Trieste (March 8th – 15th) is completed.
The representatives of Asia in Trieste will be Kazakhstan (the silver medalist at the Asian Games) and Uzbekistan.
After the cancelation of the Asian Water Polo Championships (continental qualification tournament), the Asian Swimming Federation (AASF) decided that the ranking at the Asian Games, which took place in Indonesia 2018, will be applied to determine the outcome of the Asian qualifications. Kazakhstan (men) and China (women) qualified for the Olympic Games, as the champions of the Games in Indonesia.
In women’s competition, Kazakhstan and Thailand earned the right to participate in the World’s qualifications in Trieste. Kazakhstan confirmed that it wants to play in Trieste, while Thailand (4th place at the Asian Games) didn’t accept the invitation, as well as Indonesia and Hong Kong (5th and 6th place in Indonesia. In the end, FINA invited Uzbekistan.
Groups at the tournament in Trieste
Group A: Italy, Netherlands, France, Uzbekistan, Slovakia
Group B: Hungary, Greece, New Zealand, Israel, Kazakhstan.
Schedule for Day 1 (08/03)- Group A: Slovakia – Netherlands, France – Uzbekistan, Italy bye. Group B: Kazakhstan – Greece, Hungary – New Zealand, Israel bye
(After the group stage, the top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals)
There is still no official information about the Asian representatives at the male qualification tournament (Rotterdam, March, 22th – 25th). According to the standings at the Asian Games, Iran and China can play in Rotterdam. As Total Waterpolo published, China withdrew from the qualifications. We are still waiting for the decision of the Iranian Water Polo Federation. The other Asian teams aren’t interested to play in the qualifications. The way things are going, Turkey (12th place at the European Championships) should replace China, while France (13th place at the ECH) is ready to compete at the tournament in Rotterdam if Iran gives up.
Groups at the tournament in Rotterdam
Group A: Greece, Montenegro, Brazil, Canada, Georgia, Asia 1 (Iran?)
Group B: Croatia, Germany, Russia, Romania, Netherlands, Asia 2 (probably Turkey instead of China)
Teams qualified for the Olympic Games and available berths
Men
Qualified teams
Serbia– World League winner
Italy – World champion
Spain – silver medal at the World Championships
USA – gold medal at the Pan American Games
Australia – Oceanian Continental Selection
Hungary – European champion
South Africa – the representative of Africa
Kazakhstan – the champion of the Asian Games
Japan – host
Available berths
Top three teams from the qualification tournament in Rotterdam (March 22nd – 29th)
Women
Qualified teams
USA – World League winner
Spain – silver medalist at the World Championships
Russia – silver medalist at the European Championships
Canada – silver medalist at the Pan American Games
Australia – Oceanian Continental Selection
South Africa – African Continental Selection
China – the champion of the Asan Games
Japan – host
Available berths
Top two teams from the qualification tournament in Trieste (March 8th – 15th).
