Indonesian Men's Water Polo Team Ready To Show Off At The 2022 Asian Games Hangzhou

JAKARTA - The Central Executive of the All-Indonesian Swimming Association (PP PRSI) has a strong determination to welcome the 2022 Asian Games. They want to show off at this grand event.

Facing the four-year sporting event, PRSI also made early preparations. They held the men's water polo national selection for three days from January 20-22 to form a mature team.

"We are grateful to be the defending champion of the 2019 SEA Games men's water polo. We want to defend the men's water polo gold medal. And this is how we start the national training to be able to compete competitively in the 2022 Asian Games Hangzhou China," said PRSI Chairman Anindya Bakrie in a press statement received by VOI.

The national selection for men's water polo this year received great enthusiasm from the athletes. It can be seen from the increasing number of participants from 49 athletes to 54 athletes on the last day of selection.

Participants in the national selection themselves came from various regions in Indonesia. Among them, Jambi, South Sumatra, DKI Jakarta, West Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, East Kalimantan, South Sulawesi and Papua.

“Initially, 49 athletes participated in the national selection and continued to increase to 54 athletes until the third day. That means water polo is in demand, happy with the high enthusiasm shown by water polo athletes. Hopefully with this enthusiasm can produce achievements, "said Anindya.

Later, as many as 26 athletes from 54 national selection participants will be selected to undergo the second phase of the national selection test. This number will be reduced to 18 athletes who will take part in the try out to Serbia starting in February.

Indonesian men's water polo managed to break the dominance of Singapore, which has won since 52 years ago when it appeared at the 2019 Philippines SEA Games. They managed to bring home a gold medal for the first time in the history of multi-sports in Southeast Asia.

However, this year's water polo sport will not be contested at the Hanoi SEA Games in May. It automatically bury Indonesia's chance to defend the gold medal.

The participation of Indonesian men's water polo in the 2022 Asian Games is very important. This is because Singapore as a rival is a country that is subscribed to appearing in the multi-branches throughout Asia.

At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Singapore managed to rank sixth and Indonesia in the top eight. Thanks to the experience at the Asian Games, the Indonesian men's water polo national team was able to win the 2019 SEA Games, beating Singapore aside.