6th Underwater Hockey Age Group World Championship : The preview

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It’s already been 5 years since the World Youth UWH Championships were held in the magnificent pool of Sheffield, and in a few days’ time it will be Kuala Lumpur’s turn to host the competition. As the teams gradually arrive in the Malaysian capital, it’s time to discuss the forces at work.

U19 M :

It’s hard to make predictions in a category where players are just starting out at international level. This category will feature 8 teams in total, including Australia, Colombia, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey and the USA.
World champions 5 years ago, New Zealand will be defending their title in a crowded category where every team has a chance to shine. It’s hard not to see them as favourites. The first matches will tell us what the forces will be, and we’ll quickly give indications of which teams have the potential to be world champions.

U19 W :

This edition brings together seven elite nations: Colombia, France, New Zealand, Great Britain, Australia, South Africa and Turkey. While New Zealand defends its title, all the teams are ready to fight with passion and determination. The matches promise to be intense and strategic, with each team bringing its own strengths and styles of play.
Current defending champions New Zealand arrive with added pressure to defend their crown. Known for their impeccable strategy, they are the favourites, but every match will be a challenge. Watch out for the Colombian team. Always formidable in this category, the Colombians have consistently put in impressive performances.

U24 M :

The U24 Men’s Underwater Hockey World Championships will be the scene of the densest competition of these worlds. Eleven teams will be competing: Colombia, France, New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Spain, Poland, USA, South Africa, Great Britain and hosts Malaysia.
The reigning world champions, Turkey, will be defending their title with characteristic courage. With several players already U19 world champions and one elite world champion, the Kiwis arrive in force, ready to display their dominance in this category. Last year’s finalists, Great Britain, will be counting on a strong squad, with a number of elite players having won bronze medals at the last world championships, and a group of players who know each other well. With players who took third place in the U19 category five years ago, the Spanish are aiming to repeat that feat. Finally, France, disappointed by their fifth-place finish in 2019, return with a thirst for revenge.

U24 W :

The U24W category will bring together 9 teams and promises unbearable suspense. There are 9 teams vying to win: Australia, Colombia, France, Great Britain, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey and the USA.
Colombia, bronze medallists at the last edition, and France, well prepared and silver medallists, are aiming for the top. New Zealand, defending champions, are always formidable.
It will also be interesting to see how the less-favored nations fare in the first matches of the competition, to see whether teams like South Africa, Australia or Great Britain can also go far in the competition.