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SHANGHAI (AP) — With Michael Phelps and his more illustrious pool swimmers not scheduled to hit the deck for another week, the world's best water polo teams will get a chance to show which are the medal favorites for next year's London Olympics.
Among the favorites in the women's competition which begins Sunday at the Oriental Sports Center are the winners of the first two women's Olympic golds — Australia in 2000 and Italy in 2004. Australia plays fellow Group B team Canada in its opening match while Italy plays Cuba in Group D.
Hungary and Serbia, which have 21 world titles and 18 Olympic golds between them, are the favorites in the men's competition, which starts Monday. Hungary beat the United States in the gold medal match at the 2008 Beijing Games.
The United States, also among the medal favorites in the women's competition, will play in Group A with the Netherlands, Kazakhstan and Hungary. Joining Australia and Canada in Group B are New Zealand and Uzbekistan, while China and South Africa are in Group D with Italy and Cuba. Russia, Greece, Spain and Brazil make up Group C.
As with the men's competition, the first-place team in each group advance straight to the quarterfinals while the second- and third-place teams play in the first round of the playoffs to determine who faces them. The fourth-place teams go into consolation playoffs.
Nothing much was settled between Hungary and Serbia when the strong men's teams played a pre-tournament match in Singapore last week. Hungary beat the defending world champions 13-12 but winning coach Denes Kemeny cautioned his team about reading too much into it.
"A win is always important for our confidence but this is just part of our preparations," Kemeny told local media in Singapore. "We've been rebuilding for the past two years and it is important for my players to know they can match up against a top team."
The United States will be looking for its first medal at the world championships. The Americans play Germany on Monday in their opening match in Group D, which includes Italy and South Africa.
American Jeff Powers, who played last season in Budapest for Hungarian side Vasas, said he was pleased with his group partners.
"It's not an easy draw but it's not the hardest it could be," Power told the waterpolo-world.com website. "It gives us a good chance to win the bracket if we play well, but both Italy and Germany are strong teams and we can't take them lightly. "
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Among the favorites in the women's competition which begins Sunday at the Oriental Sports Center are the winners of the first two women's Olympic golds — Australia in 2000 and Italy in 2004. Australia plays fellow Group B team Canada in its opening match while Italy plays Cuba in Group D.
Hungary and Serbia, which have 21 world titles and 18 Olympic golds between them, are the favorites in the men's competition, which starts Monday. Hungary beat the United States in the gold medal match at the 2008 Beijing Games.
The United States, also among the medal favorites in the women's competition, will play in Group A with the Netherlands, Kazakhstan and Hungary. Joining Australia and Canada in Group B are New Zealand and Uzbekistan, while China and South Africa are in Group D with Italy and Cuba. Russia, Greece, Spain and Brazil make up Group C.
As with the men's competition, the first-place team in each group advance straight to the quarterfinals while the second- and third-place teams play in the first round of the playoffs to determine who faces them. The fourth-place teams go into consolation playoffs.
Nothing much was settled between Hungary and Serbia when the strong men's teams played a pre-tournament match in Singapore last week. Hungary beat the defending world champions 13-12 but winning coach Denes Kemeny cautioned his team about reading too much into it.
"A win is always important for our confidence but this is just part of our preparations," Kemeny told local media in Singapore. "We've been rebuilding for the past two years and it is important for my players to know they can match up against a top team."
The United States will be looking for its first medal at the world championships. The Americans play Germany on Monday in their opening match in Group D, which includes Italy and South Africa.
American Jeff Powers, who played last season in Budapest for Hungarian side Vasas, said he was pleased with his group partners.
"It's not an easy draw but it's not the hardest it could be," Power told the waterpolo-world.com website. "It gives us a good chance to win the bracket if we play well, but both Italy and Germany are strong teams and we can't take them lightly. "
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