{"id":11134,"date":"2025-07-11T15:04:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T13:04:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kznaquatics.co.za\/?p=11134"},"modified":"2025-07-11T15:05:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T13:05:11","slug":"press-release-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kznaquatics.co.za\/?p=11134","title":{"rendered":"PRESS RELEASE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SA aquatics squad dives into World Champs action in Singapore<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11 July 2025 \u2013 The national women\u2019s water polo team got South Africa\u2019s campaign at the World Aquatics Championships underway in Singapore on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A team of 65 athletes will compete across five different disciplines \u2013 water polo, open water swimming, artistic swimming, diving and swimming \u2013 over the next three weeks, with the championships set to conclude on 3 August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SA women, ranked 18th<\/sup> in the world, faced a tough prospect, taking on the world\u2019s top-ranked team, Spain, in their opener, going down 24-3. They\u2019ll next face Great Britain on Sunday with a final pool game against France next Tuesday before the crossover matches begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SA men, ranked 25th<\/sup> in the world, play their first match against Serbia tomorrow. They\u2019ll then take on Romania on Monday before facing Italy next Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very tough,\u201d said SA women\u2019s player Boati Motau in reference to taking on full-time, professional teams. \u201cBut I also think it\u2019s an honour to be able to play the best of the best in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know once you step onto that stage what it takes to play those types of teams\u2026 It\u2019s such a big step up from playing locally in South Africa and I think being mentally prepared to face such tough opponents is really crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSouth Africans in our nature are very competitive\u2026 I think that\u2019s what carries us a lot when we are going to the World Championships, and how we don\u2019t give up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SA men\u2019s player Manqoba Bungane said his team were looking to gain experience as they head towards the next Olympic Games in 2028. \u201cThe goal is, I believe, for us to start making that transition process in SA water polo where we\u2019ve just had a slightly older group come through and weening out now and we are getting the youth in,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are trying to build ourselves into a competitive side for the likes of the LA Olympic Games.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others in action next week will be the country\u2019s open water swimmers. Among them is Matthew Caldwell, who, along with Catherine van Rensburg, will also be doubling up by also competing in the pool. Asked which he prefers between the two disciplines. Caldwell reckoned: \u201cIt\u2019s hard to say \u2013 I love them both. I love the racing so they both have my heart. It\u2019s really hard to choose between the two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for what he\u2019s targeting at the Championships, where he\u2019ll be competing in the 3km, 5km and 1500m relay events in the open water competition and the 400m freestyle in the pool, the Johannesburg swimmer added: \u201cI\u2019ve got quite a few goals in Singapore. In the open water I\u2019ve got my 3km knockout, I\u2019m going to try and get to the final round if that\u2019s possible, that will be very cool. And in the pool, I just want to race, hopefully get a good time and just really show who I am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The diving competition will get underway on 26 July with three South Africans set to compete across the 1m, 3m and 3m synchro events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And a team of 10 South Africans will be put to the test in the artistic swimming competition from next Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swimming will be the last discipline to get underway on 27 July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

World Aquatics Championships schedule:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water Polo: 11-24 July<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open water swimming: 15-20 July<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artistic swimming: 18-25 July<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diving: 26 July \u2013 3 August<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swimming: 27 July \u2013 3 August<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SA team at the World Aquatics Championships:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water Polo \u2013 women<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boati Motau, Esihle Zondo, Chloe Meecham, Georgia Eccles, Hannah Weppelman, Hannah Banks, Jo Williams, Kyla Moolman, Mia Lozides, Lucy Davis, Shakira January, Tumaini Macdonnell, Tia Caswell, Skye Murray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water polo \u2013 men<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carl Germishuys, Calvin Kuperus, Dylan Watt, Dean Sneddon, Luka Rajak, Kelly Geldenhuys, Matthew Bowers, Manqoba Bungane, Matthew Neser, Ryan Sneddon, Tristan Grimett, Matthew Smith, Nathan Ward, Brett Sneddon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open water swimming<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruan Breytenbach, Matthew Caldwell, Kellen Jones, Catherine van Rensburg, Callan L\u00f6tter, Connor Buck, Amica de Jager<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artistic swimming<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tori Buitendag, Aurella Pretorius, Aneesha Lindoor, Sarah Williams, Rebecca Schenk, Xera Vegter Maharajah, Casey Williams, Chloe Dundas Starr, Tayla van Huyssteen, Leah Howell<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diving<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bailey Heydra, Grace Brammer, Zalika Methula<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swimming<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aimee Canny, Rebecca Meder, Erin Gallagher, Kaylene Corbett, Caitlin de Lange, Catherine van Rensburg, Chris Smith, Matthew Caldwell, Matthew Sates, Michael Houlie, Pieter Coetz\u00e9, Olivia Nel, Georgia Nel, Hannah Robertson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– ENDS –<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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