The Aquatic Sports Association (ASA) is set for an exciting two-year period after it was entrusted with the organisation of a host international events.
Joe Caruana Curran, the president of the ASA, told a news conference yesterday that Malta’s bid to host the 2017 European Junior Championships had been successful.
“We are pleased to announce that Malta has again been chosen to organise the European Junior Championships in 2017,” Caruana Curran said.
“This will be the second time our country has hosted Europe’s top junior nations after we staged these championships in 2013. It is very rare that a country is given the chance to organise these championships twice in four years.
“However, this achievement shows that LEN (European governing body) has great faith in our ability to host such competitions and is also pleased with the level of our facilities.”
LEN’s decision to award Malta hosting rights for the 2017 European Junior Championship is another feat for the ASA that is still basking in glory after the senior waterpolo team achieved an historic qualification to the European Championships to be held in Belgrade between January 10 and 23.
“I think we are the first Maltese association whose national team has succeeded in qualifying for a European Championship,” Caruana Curran said.
“In Belgrade, we will be facing the world’s top two waterpolo teams in Serbia and Croatia along with France but we are looking forward to this challenge.
“Plans are already underway to give our team the best possible preparation.
“I’m delighted to announce that we have been informed that the government is prepared to give us financial assistance to ensure that our national team prepares for the Euro tournament in the best way possible.”
Caruana Curran said the national squad is continuing its build-up for the tournament. Michele Stellini is no longer available after the Neptunes talisman decided to retire from the game.
John Brownrigg, Luke Caruana, Nicholas Bugelli and Ben Plumpton have been drafted into the provisional squad as head coach Karl Izzo has yet to select Stellini’s replacement.
Apart from the European Championships, the national team will also be taking part in the European 8 Nations Tournament which will be held in Malta between May 13 and 15, 2016.
Fourteen teams have so far confirmed their participation in the championships which will be played in two venues... National Pool and the Neptunes pitch.
The junior national teams will also be participating in the EU8 Nations Cup with the boys competing in the Austria tournament on March 25-27 while the girls’ selection will be making their first appearance in this tournament when they travel to Denmark for the April 1-3 tournament.
Caruana Curran also announced yesterday that Malta coach Izzo has been appointed as a member of the committee of the World Waterpolo Coaches Association (WWCA).
“Another significant achievement for our association is the news that national coach Karl Izzo has been appointed to the WWCA committee,” Caruana Curran said.
“This is great recognition for Izzo who will be working alongside some of the world’s best coaches, namely Sandro Campagna, Ratko Rudic and Dragan Jovanovic.”
Meanwhile, local waterpolo coaches will have the opportunity to improve their knowledge of the game when Serbia coach Dejan Savic travels to Malta next February to conduct a coaching course.
Swimming news
On the swimming front, Caruana Curran announced that four swimmers, Matthew Galea, Raoul Stafrace, Amy Micallef and Julian Harding, are taking a year out of their studies to embark on a high intensive training scheme at the National Pool with the intent of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Harding and Nicola Muscat will also be competing in the European Short Course Championships, scheduled to be held in Netanya, Israel next December.
Malta will also play host to the Comen Swimming Championships, to be held at Tal-Qroqq between June 25 and 26.
The ASA has also agreed to stage one of the six legs of the European Open Water Swimming Championship Series. The Maltese leg, scheduled for October next year, will see the participation of over 120 swimmers who will be chasing qualification points for the World Championships and Rio Olympics.
Another top event, the Mediterranean Synchronised Swimming Cup, will also be staged in Malta.
This prestigious event, pencilled in for July 21-24, 2017, is expected to attract the top nations in the sport such as Russia, China, USA and Japan.
The Maltese synchro team is expected to be under the supervision of a Hungarian trainer as Japanese coach Saho Harada is set to end her association with the ASA in December.