Eight athletes from the NSWIS women’s water polo squad have been included in the Australian Stingers squad in Canberra as the new look team takes its first steps on the road to Tokyo 2020.

NSWIS athletes Isobel Bishop, Hannah Buckling, Keesja Gofers and Lea Yanitsas return to the fold after competing at Rio 2016, with the quartet joined by fellow NSWIS athletes Pascalle Casey, Brooke Dickie, Matilda Kearns and Amy Ridge.

New Stingers head coach Sakis Kechagias told Water Polo Australia he is looking forward to hitting the ground running.

“This camp is the first step of big journey that starts now, with the final destination Tokyo.

“I am looking forward to working with the athletes and staff and starting our journey together,” he said.