Another summer marked by "sharks" has begun - the beginning of the preparations of the Montenegrin water polo team for the World Championship was marked in Herceg Novi, and the performances of our younger teams at the biggest competitions were also announced.
Montenegrin water polo players face a summer filled with challenges, but also great opportunities.
All four national teams will be on the biggest stage, with ambitions to be at the top.
The focus is on our best team, which will play at the World Championship in Singapore from July 11th to 24th.
Montenegro will play in Group D, which includes Greece, Croatia and China.
The first-place teams from the four groups will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the second- and third-place teams will play for a place in the top eight through a playoff.
"Montenegro represents the cream of world water polo. What has been missing lately are results, and I hope that the results will come. The primary plan is to create cohesion in the team and to create an atmosphere in which every player literally 'dies' for their teammate, because that is the only way we can achieve success. Success is not just a matter of luck, but of exhausting work and sacrifice, as well as the atmosphere in the team," said coach Dejan Savić.
Our best water polo players will, after mini-preparations in Herceg Novi, which were done at a slow pace, after the club season, travel to Makarska, where they will complete the basic part and train with the Croatian national team.
"We've already had two competitions, and the players have come back from a tough club season. That's why we've been working at a slow pace since the gathering on May 26th. Tomorrow we'll finish this part of the preparations, and then we'll move to Makarska, where we'll have the basic part, and then do a few training sessions with the Croatian national team in Split," said Savić.
Our national team will play in a tournament in Budapest from June 27 to 29, against Serbia, Hungary and Spain, while the trip to Singapore is planned for July 4 or 5. In Singapore, they will have their final tests, against Japan and Spain.
"We are a young team, and as captain I am sure that we will be very competitive and aggressive in every match, and that we will give our best," said Petar Tešanović.
Our younger teams will also have big challenges this summer.
The summer opens with the U20 national team participating in the World Championship, which is being played in Zagreb from June 14th to 21st.
Next up is the European U-16 Championship in Manisa (Turkey), from July 7th to 13th, and at the end of the summer, the U-18 team will play at the European Championship in Oradea (Romania) from August 18th to 24th.
"Thank you to our small Federation, which has great ambitions and fulfills our wishes to provide coaches and players with the maximum conditions for training and preparation, so that one day everything can be transferred to real, senior water polo and so that the boys can continue to develop. I believe that good harmony will be created between the junior and senior national teams and that in this way we will continue to create high-class players who can make a difference in the pool," emphasized Nenad Vukanić, coordinator of the junior selections at the VPSCG.
President of the VPSCG Nikola Milić said that the fact that "four of our teams are competing in the most important international competitions with ambitions to be at the top is an indicator of the strength and continuity of our work."
"This is a moment when we all stand by our 'sharks'. We want to show unity, support and faith in the team that has filled us with pride for years," said Milić.
While the water polo teams are preparing for the challenges that await them, the beginning of the summer was marked by young swimmer Miloš Milenković.
Our Olympian shone at the Games of Small Countries of Europe in Andorra.
After carrying the flag of Montenegro at the opening of the Games, Miloš excelled in the pool, winning two gold medals, in the 50 and 100 meter butterfly.
He also set new records for the competition in both disciplines.
Miloš made a great introduction to what awaits him - appearances at the World Championship and the European U23 Championship.
The President of the VPSCG, Nikola Milić, congratulated Miloš and presented him with a special gift for the great results he achieved in Andorra.
"Swimming is very important to us, it is up to us to provide even better conditions for the development of this sport, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports, to do everything we can to further popularize it," said Milić.
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