Dubai's 'dancing in water' champs

The Chinese Junior Synchronized Swimming Team showed their class again today on the third and last day of the 1st International Water Polo and Synchronized Swimming Championships in Dubai, taking gold in the final event of the program, the Free Combination. 

It was not an easy victory though, the Chinese team finishing just 1.912 points ahead of the impressive Vouliagmeni Club of Greece who would have been disappointed to be so close, but not quite catch the talented Chinese juniors.

The first water polo match of the evening was between Heliopolis Club of Egypt and the Kuwait National Team. Kuwait were keen to restore some pride after their 28-2 drubbing by Greek team Olympiakos and started well, scoring the first goal.

Kuwait played strongly in defence, and went some way to redeeming their loss of last night, but did not have enough firepower to overcome the strong Heliopolis team, eventually going down 14 – 4.

The final match of the Championships was between the two leading teams in the competition, Partizan Raiffeisen of Serbia and the Olympiakos Team from Greece, the result deciding the winner of the event.  

Partizan Raiffeisen is one of the strongest water polo clubs in Europe, having previously won 7 European Champions League titles, and in 2011 were the European Super Cup Champions, the EuroInter League Champions and the winners of the Tom Hoad Cup. While Partizan sent their junior team to this competition, they have shown the depth of talent in the club over the past two days with strong performances against the Kuwaitis and Heliopolis.

Olympiakos boasts four current Greek National team members, 3 of whom competed at the 2012 Olympics. The team’s convincing wins in their previous two games in this event had them as favourites going into the championship decider.

As expected it was a tough match with both teams defending well, and the first goal was not scored until nearly 6 minutes into the first 8 minute quarter. Olympiakos went to the break with a 2-0 lead.

The final quarter was all Olympiakos, with them pulling ahead to take the win and the Championships title 13 -2 over a determined but outclassed Partizan Raiffeisen.

The final medal tally in the first ever synchronized swimming competition in Dubai was China: 4 gold, 1 silver; Greece: 3 gold, 4 silver; and Egypt: 2 silver, 5 bronze. (China did not compete in the Solo Technical or Solo Free competition).

The 1st Water Polo and Synchronized Swimming Championships were staged in the lead up to the 9th Asian Swimming Championships which will be held in Dubai from 15-25 November. This will be the first time in the history of the Asian Championships and Dubai that all four disciplines of swimming (50m pool), synchronized swimming, water polo and diving will be held in one event in one venue, and over 700 athletes from 23 countries will be competing.

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