SA’s ladies’ national water polo team is gearing up for the upcoming World Aquatics Championships in Japan, and the team includes local athletes Paige Meecham, Chloe Meecham, Tumi MacDonell and Hanna Muller, who left on July 7 to represent the country.
The competition will take place from July 14-30 and includes a range of sporting codes.
SA are in group C, together with Greece, Argentina and Italy, and they will be aiming to improve the country’s ranking from last year. In 2022 in Budapest, Hungary, SA ended 13th, which was their best finish since joining the competition in 2009, including a medal for Chloe Meecham as top goal scorer.
Stirling Primary School water polo coach Tumi MacDonell, believes that improving their results from the previous World Championships is a priority.
MacDonell said their recent participation in the World Cup qualifiers in Germany provided them with valuable international experience and boosted their confidence.
MacDonell said Argentina would be SA’s most challenging opponent, both mentally and physically. Having narrowly lost to them last year, the SA team aims to turn the tables this time.
The team has undergone training camps and participated in the World Cup qualifiers, allowing them to fine-tune their strategies as a cohesive unit. Additionally, they have organised a pre-departure camp in Johannesburg.
Stirling High School head of water polo Paige Meecham, who is in her second year of coaching the SA side, emphasised the team’s efforts to achieve a third-place pool finish, which would set them up for a better final placing.
The team has made some tactical adjustments due to changes to the team with two players returning after absence and a debuting goalkeeper.
Paige Meecham says that each player brings a unique level of experience and confidence, which strengthens the team’s cohesion.
In terms of preparation, Paige Meecham says that since the players live all across the country and juggle full-time jobs or studies, organising training camps becomes a logistical challenge.
Chloe Meecham says that in anticipation of the championships, their routine has been intense, with gym sessions three times a week, swimming five to six times a week, and water polo practice every day.
The team dedicates nearly six hours a day to rigorous training
As these talented players gear up for the World Water Polo Championships in Japan, their aspirations are high. Representing SA with pride, they hope to improve on their previous results, overcome challenges, and achieve success.
