This Sunday was for the 16 teams participating in the FINA World Women's Junior Water Polo Championships their last day of preparation. The competition will start tomorrow and throughout the week, from September 9 to 15, sixteen national teams will define their luck in the event. There will be only a winner and the candidates are 16.

Hungary, the United States, Australia and Japan are on Group A. Brazil, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan and Spain are on Group B. Greece, Canada, New Zealand and China are on Group D.

Russia, winner of the last edition, is the strongest rival in Group C, which also includes Portugal, Italy and South Africa.

Precisely, the technical director of Portugal, Miguel Pires, considered that the six European rivals showed that "they are very strong". Russia, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain played the semifinals of the World Championship in 2017. He also mentioned the United States and Australia as possible medalists in Funchal, the capital of Madeira.

“Everything is ready at the Funchal Olympic Swimming Pool Complex to be the stage of the World Water Polo Championship. The focus is on Madeira for a competition between the best countries in the world of water polo, a moment of trust in this organization by international organizations. The Madeira Association, in partnership with the Portuguese Swimming Federation and FINA, and with the support of the Regional Government and Funchal City Council, intends once again to mark the moment with an organization of excellence”, the president of the Madeira Swimming Association Association, Avelino Silva, said.

Jorge Cruz, vice president of the Portuguese Swimming Federation (FPN) for Water Polo, added: “This World Championship is very important. The event follows the 2017 European Championship, also played in Funchal, which deserved from the international bodies the highest praise. Special thanks to the Madeira Association, which has all the conditions available, in a beautiful Olympic Complex for all swimming disciplines. And a word of thanks to the Regional Government of Madeira who has given us their support”

SCHEDULE - Monday. Day 1
9.00 HUN-AUS
10.20 USA-JPN
11.40 NED-ESP
16.00 RSA-ITA
17.20 GRE-NZL
18.40 CAN-CHN
20.00 POR-RUS
21.15 BRA-KAZ