Water polo in Malta
Water polo is one of the most popular sports in Malta, with the level of clubs being quite high.[1]
Maltese Water polo is administered by the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, with a respective section dedicated to this sport.[2] Water polo activities are sponsored by Bank of Valletta.[3]
History
Water polo was played in Malta at the turn of the 20th century, and was already a well-contested sport in the 1920s, when Lord Plumer, then Governor of Malta, thought about the possibility of entering a Maltese team in the 1924 Summer Olympics. Eventually Lord Plumer left his post but the Maltese enterprised through the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, then called Amateur Swimmers Association.[4] This was refused by the Dutch organising them on the grounds that Malta was not a country, and after a legal battle ensued for Malta to be able to accede, Malta entered the 1928 Summer Olympics.[4] This process also led to the creation of the Malta Olympic Committee.[5]
Clubs
Previously there were much more teams,[6] and there was even a league system specific to Gozo only.[7] Currently the clubs are:
| Club | City | Division |
|---|---|---|
| Barracudas S.C. | San Pawl il-Baħar | Maltese Water polo First Division |
| Birzebbuga A.S.C. | Birżebbuġa | Maltese Water polo First Division |
| Exiles S.C. | Sliema | Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
| Marsaskala S.C. | Marsaskala | Maltese Water polo First Division |
| Marsaxlokk A.S.C. | Marsaxlokk | Maltese Water polo First Division |
| Neptunes WPSC | St. Julian's | Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
| Otters A.S.C. | Żebbuġ, Gozo | Maltese Water polo First Division |
| San Giljan A.S.C. | St. Julian's | Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
| Sirens A.S.C. | San Pawl il-Baħar | Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
| Sliema A.S.C. | Sliema | Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
| Ta' Xbiex W.C. | Ta' Xbiex | Maltese Water polo First Division |
| Valletta United W.P.C. | Valletta | Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
Domestic League
The Maltese Water polo league currently features 12 teams in two divisions:[3]
- Maltese Waterpolo Premier Division - 6 teams
- Maltese Waterpolo First Division - 6 teams
National Team
Malta has qualified for the 2016 Men's European Water Polo Championship[8][9] and the 2018 Men's European Water Polo Championship.[10][11][12][13][14]
References
- ^ Mitev, Georgi. "Waterpolo in Malta, enjoy one of the most popular sports on the island". www.malta.com.
- ^ "About ASA". www.asaofmalta.org.
- ^ a b "Waterpolo: More interest in summer league as clubs are seeded according to last year's placings - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt.
- ^ a b "Official Feature of the Maltese Olympic Committee: A long history of waterpolo - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt.
- ^ "Malta Olympic Committee – History". nocmalta.org.
- ^ "Sliema Waterpolo - History". www.sliema-asc.org.mt.
- ^ "History" (PDF). www.ottersasc.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-30. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- ^ "Updated - Waterpolo: Malta obtain historic qualification for European finals in Serbia - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt.
- ^ "Malta beat Poland to secure historic qualification".
- ^ "Waterpolo: Brilliant Malta overcomes Belarus to qualify for European championship - News Malta - All Maltese & English news in one place". www.newsmalta.com.
- ^ "Waterpolo : Malta dominates and qualifies for the European Championships - MyBetsFriend". 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Malta qualify for the second consecutive European Championship".
- ^ "Malta Makes History To Qualify For Prestigious Euro Water Polo Championship".
- ^ "Updated - Waterpolo: Brilliant Malta overcomes Belarus to qualify for European championship - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt.