Iran women, Denmark and hosts China will make their first-ever appearance in Canoe Polo at The World Games this year as the International Canoe Federation can confirm the list of all participating nations.
Chengdu 2025 will see China, Denmark, Germany, Iran, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and The Netherlands compete in the women’s competition.
Among the men, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Poland and Spain will battle it out.
The German men’s team will travel to Chengdu, hoping to defend their title. The Danes, however, will look to replicate their success from the 2023 European Championships.
The 2024 ICF Hangzhou Super Cup and the 2024 ICF Canoe Polo World Championships in Deqing that followed also saw traditional powerhouse Great Britain return to form.
Among the women, all eyes will be on New Zealand, who sealed their ticket by winning the world title in China last year, dominating the gold-medal match against the Italians.
The Paddle Ferns, however, will face tough challenges from Super Cup winners Spain along with Iran, who stunned one and all with their performances in Deqing.
The competition will take place at the Jianyang Cultural and Sports Center with training and scrutineering set for August 12.
The preliminary rounds are scheduled for August 13 and 14 and the quarter-finals and fifth to eighth-place games will be held on August 15.
That will be followed by the semi-finals and the finals on August 16.
Canoe Polo has been part of The World Games programme since Duisburg 2005.
Along with Canoe Polo, Dragon Boat and Canoe Marathon competitions will be held at Chengdu 2025.
“Canoe Polo has been a dynamic sport in The World Games since 2005 and Chengdu 2025 will be the sixth appearance for this fantastic sport,” Greg Smale, Chair of the ICF Canoe Polo Committee, said.
“Time after time, the spectators, often new viewers of the sport at The World Games, have found it so exciting. The venue for Canoe Polo in 2025 is excellent and planning and preparation is going well.
“To have three of the eight teams making their first-ever appearance at The World Games is great and I know the players are quite excited and looking forward to competition.
“Germany men have won the last three titles at The World Games and ICF Canoe Polo World Championships and are heavy favourites again, but for all the other positions this year feels very open and an opportunity for all.
“Denmark men are reigning European champions, and all the other men’s teams are good this time. In the other categories at the World Championships, Germany were not up to their normal high standard, and this has opened the door in the women’s category.
“New Zealand women took bronze at the previous edition of The World Games and are current world champions. Italy and The Netherlands are strong, and Iran finished in a surprising but deserved fourth place at the World Championships in 2024, thanks to their superb goalkeeper.
“I’m sure China are training hard, and the home crowd support will lift their games as all hosts have done to date.”
For all previous results from The World Games, click here.
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