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Aussie Stingers hunting Olympic berth in New Zealand

NSW Institute of Sport

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The Ord Minnett Australian Women’s water polo team have arrived in Auckland ahead of the Oceania Olympic Qualifiers against New Zealand from Friday 11 August.

WIth less than 12 months to go to the Paris Olympic Games, the Stingers will match up against trans Tasman rivals New Zealand in a best of three test match series at Sir Owen Glenn National Aquatic Centre.

Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers captain Zoe Arancini, a New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder, said it is a unique opportunity that her team are looking to capitalise on.

“It would be a fantastic result if we were able to secure an Olympic berth this weekend, especially a year out from Paris,” Arancini said.

“We’ve played New Zealand quite a few times in recent years, so we know what to expect from them. Having recently finished fourth at the World Aquatics Championships, we’ll take some confidence and lessons learned into this weekends’ games.”

Dual Olympian Arancini will celebrate her 300th game for Australia on Saturday, as she looks to lead her side to what would be her third Olympic Games campaign.

“It’s a huge honour and a huge privilege to have been playing for my country for such a long time,” Araninci said.

“From when I played my first game in 2009, to now, there are so many people that have been involved in the journey and I’m extremely grateful for them. To be able to captain on this special occasion too, and with the current group of girls that we have…it will be a very memorable one and I’m really honoured,” she said.

Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers Head Coach Paul Oberman said his team are ready for the challenge that lies ahead this weekend.

“It’s certainly going to be a very tough series against New Zealand this weekend,” Oberman said of the qualifiers which sees NSWIS athletes Pascalle Casey, Bronte Halligan, Ruby Swadling, Tilly Kearns, Genevieve Longman in the green and gold.

“None of our team have ever played in a series like this, with Olympic qualification on the line…it’s very different to a normal test match series. New Zealand are a tough team, and they’ve had some very good results recently. We need to go out, and put our best foot forward,” he said.

After finishing fourth at the World Aquatics Championships earlier this month, Oberman believes his team are in the best position possible to earn the Olympic spot.

“We’ll be taking a lot of confidence from our result at the World Championships into the Olympic qualifiers this weekend,” Oberman said.

“A fourth place in Japan just proves that we do belong amongst the names of the best teams in the world, and it shows that we’ve got some very good players as well. Earning the Olympic quota this weekend would be the best result for us. It would then give us the opportunity to continue to work on our game and style – developing the things that we’re good at and also building on the areas for improvement as well.”

The Oceania Olympic Qualifiers kick off on Friday 11 August and will be streamed live via YouTube. The Olympic quota will go to the team who wins the best of the three test match series.

OCEANIA OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS

Game 1 | Australia v New Zealand | Friday 11 August | 5.30pm AEST / 7.30pm NZST | WATCH LIVE

Game 2 | Australia v New Zealand | Saturday 12 August | 4pm AEST / 6pm NZST | WATCH LIVE

Game 3 | Australia v New Zealand | Sunday 13 August | (if required)

ORD MINNETT AUSSIE STINGERS

Charlize Andrews (QLD)

Abby Andrews (QLD)

Zoe Arancini (WA/NSW)

Elle Armit (QLD)

Pascalle Casey (NSW)

Tenealle Fasala (QLD)

Bronte Halligan (NSW)