Stars feature at Dubai’s ‘dancing in water’ meet

For the first time ever Dubai will play host from 11-13 October to the 1st International Water Polo and Synchronised Swimming Championships at the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex.

This is not only the first time these championships have been held, but is also the first time both water polo and synchronised swimming competitions have ever been conducted in Dubai.

The Championships will feature four international standard water polo teams competing over three days in a round robin format, all playing each other once.

The teams competing in this inaugural water polo event are the Kuwaiti National Team; Olympiakos FC of Greece; the Heliopolis Club of Egypt, and Partizan Raiffeisen of Serbia.

Partizan Raiffeisen is one of the strongest water polo clubs in Europe, having previously won 7 European Champions League titles, and in 2011 were the European Super Cup Champions, the EuroInter League Champions and the winners of the Tom Hoad Cup, promising spectators an exciting competition over the three days.

The synchronised Swimming Championships will feature completion in the solo, duet and team disciplines. 

The Vouliagmeni Nautical Club of Greece and the Shooting Club of Egypt will face strong competition from the Chinese Junior National Team. 

All three teams have an impressive international pedigree in synchronized swimming, with the Chinese taking silver in the teams event and bronze in the duets at the 2012 London Olympic Games. 

Greece and Egypt also featured in the Olympic finals, the Greek women’s duets team coming 8th, and Egypt taking 7th in the teams competition.

The synchronised swimming competition will take place from 2.00pm-5.00pm on 11, 12 and 13 October, with solo, duets and teams on the first two days and the free combination competition on the final day. The water polo games will be held after the synchronized swimming at 5.30pm and 7pm on 11,12, and 13 October. 

The event is being held in the lead up to the 9th Asian Swimming Championships which will be held in Dubai from 15-25 November.

The Asian Championships will be the first time all four disciplines of swimming, synchronised swimming, water polo and diving will be held in one event in one venue.

Entry to the event is free.

The Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex is on the Dubai Bypass Road (E611).

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