Australian Women’s Water Polo Names FINA World Championships Roster

SYDNEY, Australia, July 5. THE Australian Stingers women's water polo squad has been announced for this month's international tournament in Perth and the subsequent FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China later in July.

A total of 14 players have been selected to travel to Perth where they will have their final World Championships training camp and key lead up matches against Greece, Hungary, New Zealand and the Australian 20 & Under squad.

Stingers head coach Greg McFadden believes his team are in a good position ahead of the world championships and said their schedule in 2011 has enabled them to fine tune their game plans ahead of the year's major tournament.

"The World League competition and the training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport has the girls very well prepared to perform in Shanghai and I am looking forward to seeing where we are placed 12 months out from the London Olympics," McFadden said.
"We have selected a squad of 14 for the Perth tournament to cover the chance of any injury and to give players an extra opportunity to stake their claim for selection."

One player will be dropped from the squad of 14 prior to the team heading to Shanghai.

Headlining the team will be dual Olympian siblings Rebecca Rippon, Melissa Rippon and step sister Kate Gynther, who along with fellow stars Bronwen Knox, Gemma Beadsworth and Alicia McCormack, are the only remnants from the bronze medal winning team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Their wealth of experience mixed with the youth of up and coming superstars Nicola Zagame and Holly Lincoln-Smith has the squad in a strong position to match it with world number one United States of America and third ranked host's China.

Australia has competed against both nations over the past two months including the recent FINA World League Finals in Tianjin, China, recording a draw and a narrow semi-final loss to the USA and a strong victory over China in the bronze medal playoff to claim third.

The position of goalkeeper for the Stingers will also me a major strength coming into the championships with a fierce battle taking place in recent weeks to determine the two spots in the cage.

Victoria Brown, Alicia McCormack and Lea Barta have displayed tremendous form for Australia in 2011 and past international seasons and the decision to finalise on just two was tough for McFadden.

"The selection of the goalkeepers was quite difficult with all three available goalies deserving selection," he said.

"Alicia McCormack (2008 Olympic Bronze Medallist) and Victoria Brown (2010 Australian player of the year) were the lucky ones in the end with Lea Barta missing out after performing very well against China in the World League rounds."

The Stingers will be in camp for nine days in Perth before flying to Shanghai on the 13th of July.

Their first round opponent at the world championships is 2009 runners-up Canada before fixtures against neighbours New Zealand and fellow Asian competitors Uzbekistan.

Water polo at the FINA World Championships commences on July 17 with the women's competition finishing on July 29.

Australian Stingers women's water polo squad for the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai:

Goalkeepers: Victoria Brown (1985, VIC), Alicia McCormack (1983, NSW)
Field Players: Bronwen Knox (QLD, 85), Kate Gynther (QLD, 82), Glencora Ralph (WA, 88), Sophie Smith (QLD, 85), Nicola Zagame (NSW, 90), Jane Moran (QLD, 85), Rebecca Rippon (NSW, 78), Rowena Webster (VIC, 87), Gemma Beadsworth (WA, 87), Holly Lincoln Smith (NSW,88), Keesja Gofers (NSW, 90), Melissa Rippon (QLD, 80)
*One player will be dropped from the above squad following the International Tournament in Perth from July 8-12

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