Sydney University’s Australian women’s water polo representatives Keesja Gofers and Isobel Bishop are strong contenders to be named in the national team to contest the FINA World League finals after their efforts in the World League round in California in the past week.
Sydney University Women’s Water Polo Club (SUWWPC) Lions captain Gofers and left-hander Bishop were in the Stingers side that defeated USA 7-5 in the final of the 2014 FINA World League Round in California yesterday afternoon.
Gofers, a former SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder, and Bishop, a current scholarship holder, will be hoping their names are read out on May 28, when the team to contest the FINA World League finals in Kunshan, China, is announced.
The squad for the FINA World League Finals will be announced on May 28 to depart for Kunshan, China on June 3.The World League finals are from June 10-15, with the Stingers’ main target this year being the FINA World Cup in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia from August 12-17.
The Stingers defeated China 13-10, Brazil 9-6, Venezuela 17-0, Kazakhstan 12-6 and Canada 12-11 on their way to the final against the USA, with Gofers, normally a driver, playing in an unaccustomed role at centre-back during the tournament.
Meantime, the Lions’ top scorer in the NWPL finals series, 18-year-old Bronte Halligan has been named in the Australian team to contest the 2014 FINA World Youth Championships in Madrid in Spain.
It will be Halligan’s second World Championship appearance, after representing Australia at the FINA World Junior Championships last year in Greece.
The team will participate in an eight-nation tournament in Hungary from August 19-21. From there the girls will fly to Madrid for the World titles from August 25-31.
And 17-year-old left-hander Kristy Donkin has been selected in the 21-strong Australian-born ’95 squad. After a three-day training camp in Adelaide from July 5-7 and the 20 and Under Championships to be staged from July 8-13, the squad will be reduced to 15 for a European tour beginning on August 1, with stops in Hungary and Slovakia, before the girls arrive home on August 23.
