Sydney University athletes Keesja Gofers, Hannah Buckling and Lea Barta have helped the Australian women’s water polo team to qualify for their first Water Polo World Championships final in six years.
The Australians, who won bronze at the London Olympics, booked their date with home nation Spain thanks to a thrilling 9-6 victory over Russia in their semi-final this morning.
It will be the first time Australia has had the chance to vie for a World Championship gold medal since 2007 – the year after the team won the 2006 World Championships.
Spain, which won silver at the London Olympics but has never finished higher than seventh at a World Championships, beat Hungary 13-12 to set up the meeting with the Stingers.
The hosts have already achieved their best World Championships result, having never finished higher than seventh.
Sydney Uni Women’s Water Polo Club (SUWWPC) representatives Buckling, Gofers and Lea Barta are all part of the Stingers team; and Buckling and Gofers are both SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holders.
