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Women's Water polo Olympic squad announced

 

Women's Water polo Olympic squad announced

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AOC
Women's Water polo Olympic squad announced
Australia’s Women’s Water Polo squad for the Rio 2016 Olympics has been announced as the squad moves from 21 to 16 players.

WATER POLO: Australia’s Women’s Water Polo squad (Aussie Stingers) for the Rio 2016 Olympics has been announced as the squad moves from 21 to 16 players.

It is the next step on the road to Rio, with the final Olympic team of 13 to be selected from this squad in June this year.

The announcement comes as the Aussie Stingers prepare to host China at home at the end of the month in a three test match series and training camp in Perth.

The Aussie Stingers are shooting for another podium finish after their bronze medal at the London Olympics, with the squad featuring a strong mix of experience and fresh talent.

Coach Greg McFadden late last year delayed the final squad announcement, providing additional opportunity for the broader squad of 21 to demonstrate their ability through a series of camps and test events that included the November tour to Rio.

“We have the test matches coming up against China at the end of the month which will be an important part of our Rio planning,” said McFadden.

“China finished fifth at the World Championships last year in Kazan (Russia) and really any team in the top five in the world on their good day can walk away with the win.

“Last month China qualified for the Rio Olympics, joining Brazil and Australia as the only nations to qualify at this stage. Like us, they’ll be experimenting with their combinations as we all work towards the final team selection.

“Among our squad is captain Bronwen Knox and Gemma Beadsworth who will be vying for their third Olympic selection. We also have another four players from the London Bronze medal team with the remaining squad players looking for their first Olympic team selection,” he said.

Last year provided a mix bag of results for the Aussies Stingers who were unlucky to miss out on the medal at the World Championships in Kazan.

Despite walking away without the medal, the Aussie Stingers had an amazing performance at the test Series in Rio late last year where they won gold against reigning Olympic champions USA. It was the first time since the London test event in 2012 that the Aussies had beaten the USA side.

Western Australia player and dual Olympian Gemma Beadsworth will be aiming for her third Olympic Games and admitted she continued her Olympic journey believing the Stingers have what it takes to better their result from London.

“I wouldn’t have considered coming back and working towards another Olympic games if I didn’t believe this group had what it takes to achieve our ultimate goal of winning.
“We are coming up to the first training camp for 2016 and that is certainly about setting the timing for the remainder of the year. We have the test events against China, World League Finals and then its really taking it month by month.

“It was good to finish last year with the win in Rio, after we didn’t get the results we’d hope for in Russia (World Championships). We believed we had what it takes to get the gold and to walk away from the Rio tour achieving that result was great,” said Beadsworth.

The squad will go into camp on 25 January 2016 in Perth with China where they will also play three test matches, with all players afforded the opportunity to impress selectors.

Test matches – Australia vs China
Thursday 28 January UWA Aquatic Centre, Parkway Entrance 4, Crawley, WA
Saturday 30 January UWA Aquatic Centre, Parkway Entrance 4, Crawley, WA
Tuesday 2 February Bicton Pool, Blackwall Reach Parade, Bicton, WA

Olympic Squad – Women’s Water Polo
Name State
Ashleigh Southern QLD
Bronte Halligan NSW
Bronwen Knox QLD
Gemma Beadsworth WA
Glencora McGhie WA
Hannah Buckling NSW
Holly Lincoln Smith NSW
Isobel Bishop NSW
Jayde Appel NSW
Keesja Gofers NSW
Kelsey Wakefield WA
Lea Yanitsas NSW
Lil Hedges WA
Nicola Zagame NSW
Rowena Webster VIC
Zoe Arancini WA

Water polo Australia

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