As with the explosion of teams in the Under-16 boys’ event just completed in Malta, 22 teams have registered for the girls’ equivalent for matches to be played at the Manisa Olympic Swimming Pool starting on June 28.
Hungary took centre stage two years ago in Larissa, Greece with host nation Greece taking silver and Spain edging Australia for the bronze medal.
These teams can expect to cap up for bragging rights again as 10 new teams take the stage in what will be a hectic seven days of competition, featuring 62 matches.
Broken into eight groups of three (two groups are down to two after Israel and Mexico withdrew from the original 24), there will be eight matches on day one, six on day two, eight on day three, 10 on days four and five, six seven.
In 2022, Hungary beat Greece 10-6 for the crown in the platinum classification and Spain fended off Australia 11-5 for bronze. The Gold classification — fifth to eighth — had Japan beat Italy 15-12 and Croatia claimed seventh thanks to an 8-6 margin over Netherlands.
The 2024 draw will sort out the leading teams after three days and the top 16 will work their way through to the final classifications by day seven. The lesser teams will contest division three for minor classifications.
Teams from 2022 not playing this year are Japan, Israel and Switzerland.
Coming into the equation for the first time at cadet level are China, Czechia, Zimbabwe, Thailand, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, France, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Ukraine and Malta.
In Gzira, Malta earlier this week, Spain blitzed the U16 men’s competition for gold with Italy second and outgoing champion Hungary third.
GROUPS:
Group A: Thailand, Netherlands.
Group B: Zimbabwe, Canada, Greece.
Group C: Germany, Croatia, France.
Group D: Kazakhstan, South Africa, Hungary.
Group E: United States of America, New Zealand, Serbia.
Group F: Australia, Turkey.
Group G: Ukraine, Spain, Malta.
Group H: China, Czechia, Italy.
OPENING-DAY DRAW
09:00, Thailand v Netherlands
10:15, Zimbabwe v Canada
11:30, Germany v Croatia
12:45, Kazakhstan v South Africa
16:15, United States of America v New Zealand
17:30, China v Czechia
18:45, Ukraine v Spain
20:00, Turkey v Australia