Brisbane to host Japan Test Series

Published Mon 22 Oct 2018

Australia’s Men’s and Women’s Water Polo team will kick their Tokyo 2020 preparations into the next gear when they host the Japanese teams in a two test match series in Brisbane on 17 and 18 of January 2019.

The test match exhibition forms part of Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC) which will be staged in Brisbane from 12-24 January 2019 which brings together more than 3,000 participants from 190 teams across Australia.

The Aussie Sharks and Aussie Stingers test match series will further enhance the two-week water polo festival, designed to showcase the best the sport has to offer in the central Brisbane location.

Both Aussie sides will come into the test matches having medalled at the FINA World Cup recently, with the Aussie Sharks (men) claiming silver and Aussie Stingers (women) taking out bronze.

Water Polo Australia President Thomas Whalan said this is a great opportunity for the future of the sport to witness world class competition and meet their Olympic heroes.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the Japanese men’s and women’s water polo teams in Brisbane as part of the inaugural Australian Youth Water Polo Championships.

“It further adds to our vision creating a two-week water polo festival that allows our junior athletes and coaches the opportunity to meet and watch our senior Australian teams.

“Not only will our junior teams have the chance to watch world class water polo action, our Aussie Sharks and Aussie Stingers teams will be attending the AYWPC to meet the junior players and their coaches.

“On the back of the recent World Cup success both our teams will be looking to further our Olympic Games preparations with a solid training camp and test match series against a strong Japanese side.

“Japan continue to build both their teams as they prepare to host the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, so we are expecting some very fierce competition,” said Whalan.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the two test match series between Australia and Japan will add to the festival atmosphere of the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships.

“Brisbane has a strong reputation for hosting sporting events, and this exciting test match series will see some of the world’s finest young athletes battle it out in the pool,” Cr Quirk said.

“I look forward to our city offering our famous warm welcome to the Japanese teams, and all competitors and supporters of the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships.”

The Japanese team will be in Brisbane as part of a training camp and the feature two match test series against Australia, providing both sides the opportunity to train and build towards the FINA World Championships later in 2019 as well as the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.