Players dive in for polo

THE Gold Coast is set to become the home of water polo in 2020 with Water Polo Queensland announcing a new-look masters championships event to be held in November.

Following the cancellation of the Pan Pacific Masters Games and WPA Open Championships due to travel restrictions, Water Polo Queensland is working with the Gold Coast Performance Centre to host a masters championships.

Open to registered Water Polo Australia members over 30, teams will compete over three days, with men’s and women’s divisions available.

Water Polo Queensland chief executive Mel Woosnam said it would be a great opportunity for masters competitors to become involved in the festival of water polo.

“With restrictions starting to lift in Queensland we’re excited to see some water polo action return,” Woosnam said.

“While we will be monitoring the Government advice around competitions and return to play protocols, we are excited to get some water polo action back on the national calendar.”

Water Polo Australia chief executive Richard McInnes said plans were in motion for a full slate of national water polo competition in 2021.

“After consulting with our state associations it was determined it was not going to be viable to conduct the full open championships in 2020, but there was interest from our masters competitors to still have some form of competition,” McInnes said.

“We look forward to launching the WPA Open Championships, featuring masters, beach polo and country competition, in May 2021.

“Water Polo Australia will be unveiling the new national competitions framework in the coming the weeks.”

Expressions of interest are already open for the masters championships, and details can be found on the Water Polo Queensland website.