World C'ships, Then SEA Games

S'pore water polo teams plan to 'learn and inspire' at home, in prep for Thailand tests

- David Lee

The Singapore water polo teams' mission is to "learn and inspire", as they look forward to facing the world powers in the July 11-Aug 3 World Aquatics Championships at home.

Singapore men's captain Lee Kai Yang said: "Everyone starts at 0-0, so we will still go into every match with the intention to win, no matter how slim that probability is."

"We relish the challenge to play against these high-level teams. Win or lose, there will be lessons to take away from these matches," the sports business consultant with Deloitte told The Straits Times at the launch of the first community road-show for the world meet at ION Orchard on May 9.

"Having played at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, I know the atmosphere will be incomparable to playing elsewhere. There will be family, friends and other Singaporeans cheering for us.

"It's not just about us, we also hope a kid in the stands seeing water polo for the first time can get inspired to play and hopefully one day don national colours."

The men's team, who will make their world championship debut, are in Group C with 2024 Olympic bronze medallists United States, as well as Brazil and Canada.