It was a slow start for the South African aquatics team at the 18th Fina World Championships, which started on Friday in Gwangju, South Korea.
PHOTO: FINA
Tough start to FINA World Championships for South Africa
Team South Africa have made a slow start to the FINA World Championships with little success to speak of ion the opening two days.
It was a slow start for the South African aquatics team at the 18th Fina World Championships, which started on Friday in Gwangju, South Korea.
PHOTO: FINA
The South African contingent at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea has yet to really make a splash after two days of action.
The South African women’s Water Polo team were outclassed by the more experienced Netherlands side as they crashed to 33-0 defeat in their opening match of the Championships on Sunday.
Maud Megens (six) led the scoring for the Dutch side in their dominant display, other scorers were, Dagmar Genee (four), Sabrina van der Sloot (three), Iris Wolves (three), Nomi Stomphorst (two), Bente Rogge (three), Maartje Keuning (two), Simone van de Kraats (seven) and Rozanne Voorvelt (three).
Earlier on in the day, Michelle Weber and Robyn Kinghorn raced in the Open Water 10km event and finished 31st and 46th in 1:56:25.8 and 2:03:05.1, respectively.
The Women’s Water Polo team will go up against New Zealand in their second group match on Tuesday, while Monday’s programme will see the men’s Water Polo team take on Spain.
On the opening day of the FINA World Championships Gauteng diver Julia Vincent progressed with a fourth-place qualification in the 1m Springboard Preliminary round, scoring 241.35 points but fell behind in Saturday’s final, finishing the event in an overall 12th position with 236.40 points.
Vincent, alongside teammate Micaela Bouter, will also participate in the 3m Springboard event on July 18.
KwaZulu-Natal brothers Michael and Christopher McGlynn concluded the men’s 5km Open Water race in 22nd and 43rd place in 53:42.4 and 54:06.2, respectively, while in the first Artistic Swimming event of the competition onFriday, Laura Strugnell and Emma Manners-Wood finished the Duet Technical Preliminary round in 42nd place with 65.4588 points.
Most of South Africa’s medal contenders will be competing in the pool events which start in the second week of the Championships. Chad Le Clos appears to be South Africa’s best hope of a medal but the 18-strong swimming team will all be eager to get onto the podium.
*Additional reporting by ANA- African News Agency.
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