Moldova hosts first International U18 Water Polo Cup
The country proudly hosted its first-ever international U18 tournament in the sport.
The inaugural Federation Cup brought together four teams: the national squads from Moldova, the Czech Republic, and Bulgaria, along with the Chișinău-based Imperial Sport club. In the grand final, the Moldovan 'Tricolor' juniors dominated the Czech Republic's national team with a commanding 23-4 victory.
"I feel incredibly happy. The team played exceptionally well in the final, and we made the fewest mistakes throughout this tournament," declared Dragoș Cotelnic, a Moldovan water polo player.
"All the teams were competitive, but we played the best. Overall, I've been playing this sport for 10 years. It doesn't just develop muscles; it also builds character," emphasized another Moldovan player, Timur Colesnicenco.
"The teams from the Czech Republic and Bulgaria were pleased with their experience. We put in a colossal effort to ensure the comfort of both players and coaches, and we hope to attract many more spectators to future competitions, not just players' family and friends," reiterated Veaceslav Baicev, President of the Moldovan Water Polo Federation.
Bulgaria secured third place. The tournament, held at Arena Chișinău, served as excellent preparation for the Moldovan team, which will now compete in the first division of the U18 European Championship.
This continental competition will take place in the town of Rio Maior, Portugal, from August 18-24. The 'Tricolor' juniors will be led by Montenegrin head coach Srdjan Lazarevic.
"We anticipate very challenging matches, but we still have time to prepare. Our objective is to be competitive," noted head coach Srdjan Lazarevic.
Officials from the Moldovan Water Polo Federation hope to host this tournament again in 2026.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
