AUSTRALIAN U20 WOMEN PREPARE FOR 2023 WORLD AQUATICS WOMEN’S U20 WATER POLO CHAMPIONSHIPS

Published Tue 05 Sep 2023

The Australian Women’s U20 team have arrived in Portugal ahead of the 2023 World Aquatics Women’s U20 Water Polo Championships.

The 15 person team is ready and raring to go, including two current members of the Aussie Stingers squad who will bring valuable experience to their young side.

Kate Blew said her team are looking forward to the competition getting underway.

“There is a lot of excitement within the team but also mixed with a bit of good nervous energy,” Blew said.

“We are all so honoured to be representing our country and individual states, which comes with some elements of pressure but we are all ready to take on the challenge!” she said.

Blew said the opportunity to come together for some training camps, including against NCAA Champions Stanford earlier this year, has prepared them well for the event.

“We are all from different states making it challenging to train as a team, however within our own states we have all been super busy training and prioritising recovery to ensure we perform at the best of our ability.

“As part of our preparation we had a training camp against Stanford College at the Gold Coast. This camp was a great opportunity to put into practice some new team tactics and test our skills against the NCAA champions.

“With the team spread across the country it can be challenging, but regular zoom meetings and updates helps us be accountable and keep our goals and team values at the core of our training environment,” she said.

Goal keeper Jasmine Higgs said the team have set themselves some pretty lofty goals for the World Championships, but will be taking each game on step at a time.

“Each national team will bring a new challenge for us to navigate. I am most excited to go up against the United States, as I know a few of their girls and I’m sure it would be a really tough game,” Higgs said.

“The big dream is to end up on the podium, but our focus is to play our game and play our best in every moment.

“If we can adapt to each opposition and problem solve their strengths, I’m sure those watching at home will be excited and proud,” she said.

SCHEDULE

Friday 8 September | Australia v Kazakhstan | 9pm AEST

Sunday 10 September | Australia v India | 7.30pm AEST

For the full schedule - click here

AUSTRALIAN TEAM

Kate Blew (Mermaids, QLD)

Tayla Dawkins (Henley Sharks, SA)

Eve Gath (North Brisbane Polo Bears, QLD)

Sienna Green (Sydney Uni, NSW)

Samantha Hardingham (Sydney Uni, NSW)