This year Belarus welcomes Europe’s best male junior water polo players. Starting in 1970, the LEN European U19 Water Polo Championships (junior Europeans as it’s also known) are the oldest regularly staged international age-group event in this sport.
Two years ago in Alphen Serbia retained its title and reached double digits in the overall title race: including wins of Yugoslavia, the Serbs stand with 10 gold medals so far. Italy is next with 5, indeed their back-to-back victories in 2010 and 2012 halted the Serbs’ and the Montenegrins’ winning streak. Since 1996 Yugoslavia (Serbia) won 8 out of 11 editions, one title landed in Montenegro (2008) and Italy managed to achieve that double. The Italians were runners-up in Alphen in 2016 while Spain got the bronze.
Two weeks ago in the U18 World Championships no former Yugoslavian countries made the podium, though. At Szombathely (HUN) Greece clinched the title by beating Spain, Hungary came third after edging out the Serbs. It’s yet to be seen if some of the younger players invited from those teams could make the difference in Minsk.
The group stage already promises a coupe of fierce battles as Croatia will face Spain, Montenegro is to meet Greece, Hungary will have another showdown with Italy while Serbia clashes with Russia before the knockout phase begins.
LEN offers free live stream from all matches and the usual live-scoring site is also available for water polo lovers – just visit www.len.eu
Men’s European U19 Water Polo Championships
Group A
Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Turkey
Group B
Belarus, Greece, Montenegro, Romania
Group C
France, Georgia, Hungary, Italy
Group D
Great Britain, Netherlands, Russia, Serbia
The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with LEN Aquatics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.