Four years ago in Gwangju, South Korea, the first World Aquatics beach water polo championships were staged with some sensational water polo, albeit played in a modified field of play in the main water polo venue.

Image source: Torin Koos/World Aquatics

This weekend’s modified-format tournament is being staged as part of the World Aquatics Festival in Somabay, Egypt and is a continuation of efforts to promote water polo around the globe as not just requiring a full-sized pool in which to play.

There has been a worldwide movement away from pools as a means to attract newcomers to the sport and make it more available to the masses.

The men’s teams are drawn into four groups and the women — Czech Republic, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Greece — will play a round robin, culminating in the finals.

There are three men’s groups of three and one of two where Kazakhstan and Hungary will play each other twice.

This event has attracted a diverse group of nations, allowing a greater reach with the likes of Ukraine, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Egypt — teams that do not normally rise to the elite seven-a-side version of the game.

At Gwangju 2019, United States of America women beat Spain 14-12 for the inaugural world crown with Australia taking third place — 20-16 against China.

The men’s competition went the way of France with a 22-17 victory over Argentina. Canada clinched third place with a nail-biting 19-18 success over China.

The opening day in Somabay has nine matches — seven men ‘s and two women’s — and matches can be viewed live on the Aqua Youtube website.

Teams will qualify through to the World Beach Games to be staged in Bali, Indonesia on August 5-12.

Also involved in the festival is open water swimming, which has finished, and an artistic swimming World Cup meet, running in tandem with the water polo.

Men’s Groups:

Group A: Kuwait, Ukraine, Georgia.
Group B: South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Montenegro.
Group C: Egypt, Romania, Serbia
Group D: Kazakhstan, Hungary.

Women’s Group:

Zimbabwe, South Africa, Greece, Czech Republic.

Water polo schedule:

Friday:
Match 1, 09:00, Men, Kuwait v Ukraine
Match 2, 10:00, Men, Egypt v Romania
Match 3, 11:00, Men, South Africa v Saudi Arabia
Match 4, 12:00, Men, Kazakhstan v Hungary
Match 1, 13:00, Women, Zimbabwe v Greece
Match 2, 14:00, Women, Czech Republic v South Africa
Match 5, 15:00, Men, Georgia v Kuwait
Match 6, 16:00, Men, Serbia v Egypt
Match 7, 17:00, Montenegro v South Africa

Saturday
Match 8, 08:00, Men, Saudi Arabia v Montenegro
Match 9, 09:00, Men, Romania v Serbia
Match 10, 10:00, Men, Hungary v Kazakhstan
Match 11, 11:00, Men, Ukraine v Georgia
Match 3, 12:00, Women, Zimbabwe v South Africa
Match 4, 13:00, Women, Czech Republic v Greece
Match 12, 14:00, Men, 2B v 1C
Match 13, 15:00, Men, 1B v 2C
Match 14, 16:00, Men, 1A v 2D
Match 15, 17:00, Men, 2A v 1D

Sunday
Match 16, 10:00, Men, Semifinals 9-12
Match 17, 11:00, Men, Semifinals 5-8
Match 18, 12:00, Men, Semifinals 5-8
Match 5, 14:00, Women, Czech Republic v Zimbabwe
Match 6, 15:00, Women, South Africa v Greece
Match 19, 16:00, Men, Semifinals
Match 20, 17:00, Men, Semifinals

Monday
Match 21, 10:00, Men, Classification 9-10
Match 22, 11:00, Men, Classification 7-8
Match 23, 12:00, Men, Classification 5-6
Match 7, 14:00, Women, Classification 1-2
Match 8, 15:00, Women, Classification 3-4
Match 24, 16:00, Men, Classification 3-4
Match 25, 17:00, Men, Classification 1-2