Women's Water Polo World Cup comes to Christchurch

The world’s top women’s water polo teams will be in Christchurch next month where they will be vying to win the 2010 FINA World Cup title, with the New Zealand team promising to put up a good fight.

Among the teams coming to New Zealand are current world champions United States who are bringing star captain, three times Olympian and female water polo player of the decade Brenda Villa.

This is only the second time the FINA Women’s Water Polo World Cup has been held in New Zealand. The previous event was also held in Christchurch, in 1988.

The event, which is being held at the QEII Recreation and Sports Centre from August 17-22, will see New Zealand, Australia, Greece, Russia, China, Canada, Brazil and the United States battle it out for the World Cup title.

New Zealand women’s coach Eelco Uri, who is himself a double Olympian in water polo, says the competition will be fierce but the Kiwis will be giving the top teams a run for their money.

“Nothing is impossible and we will be fighting hard. We see this World Cup as a step towards next year’s world championships and our long term goal of competing at the Olympics.”

Uri said most of the New Zealand women’s team played in the United States, Australia or Europe and had recently regrouped ahead of competition.

``Water polo is a very tough, physical game and we are expecting an exciting contest,’’ Uri said.

The New Zealand women’s team will have several training camps in Auckland before heading to Christchurch on 14 August for the competition.

The New Zealand team is:

Alexandra Boyd (Burwood, Christchurch) QEII Water Polo Club, Christchurch Sydney University Lions Water Polo Club, Australia

Casie Bowry (Shirley, Christchurch) QEII Water Polo Club, Christchurch Sydney University Lions Water Polo Club, Australia

Emily Cox (Te Atatu, Auckland) Marist Water Polo Club, Auckland Club Natación La Latina, Madrid, Spain

Sian Ells-Tewhiu (Hataitai, Wellington) Harbour City Water Polo Club, Wellington

Carina Harache (Hataitai, Wellington) Harbour City Water Polo Club, Wellington University of Western Australia Torpedos, Perth

Dana Harvey (North Shore, Auckland) North Harbour Water Polo Club, Auckland Arizona State University, AZ, USA

Kirsten Hudson (Wellington) Hutt Water Polo Club, Wellington Hartwick College, NY, USA

Danielle Lewis (St Heliers, Auckland) Marist Water Polo Club, Auckland Diocesan School For Girls, Auckland

Isabella Morrison (Kelburn, Wellington) Harbour City Water Polo Club, Wellington Arizona State University, AZ, USA

Jasmine Myles (Hillcrest, Auckland) North Harbour Water Polo Club, Auckland University of the Pacific, CA, USA

Natalie Seabourn (North Shore, Auckland) North Harbour Water Polo Club, Auckland

Anna Sieprath (Remuera, Auckland) Marist Water Polo Club, Auckland Brisbane Barracudas, Australia

Lauren Sieprath (Remuera, Auckland) Long Beach State University (CA, USA) Marist Water Polo Club, Auckland

Lynlee Smith (Northcote, Auckland) North Harbour Water Polo Club, Auckland Arizona State University, AZ, USA

Emma Stoneman (Currently lives in Wellington originally from Mt Eden, Auckland, used to play for Marist Water Polo Club) Harbour City Water Polo Club, Wellington