Aussies aim for another home Gold as women's Water Polo World Championships squad announced

9 March 07 Australian Water Polo Inc has today announced the women's squad for the 2007 FINA World Championships starting on the 17th of March in Melbourne. The team will be aiming to repeat the amazing efforts of the Olympic team in Sydney in 2000, as they aim for another home Gold in an international championship. Currently ranked no.1 in the world, after winning the World Cup last year, the team will be captained by Mel Rippon who will hopefully be joined by sister Rebecca, and step sister Kate Gynther in the squad. Rebecca, currently signed as a professional player in Europe, injured herself in the team's recent European tour and is racing against time to recover for the World Championships after undergoing a hand operation only four days ago. Gynther, alongside Suzie Fraser were the stand out players of the team's recent tour of Europe where they performed well against world-class opposition and only lost two games despite enduring a mounting injury toll and heavy work load, which saw three players sent home to receive medical attention. Coach Greg McFadden is happy with the team's preparation just a week outs of the World Championships. "The European tour was a real test for us, especially as we had a lot of bad luck with injuries, but I feel that the squad we have named will give the title in Melbourne a real shake," he commented. "To succeed in major tournaments like this you need depth and I feel that we have that, and hopefully this will help us reach our goal of winning another major world title at home." Australian Water Polo Women's Squad for the World Championships: 1. Emma Knox (Fremantle Marlins) 2. Alicia McCormack (Cronulla Sharks) 3. Victoria Brown (Victorian Tigers) 4. Nikita Cuffe (Sydney University Lions) 5. Bronwen Knox (KFC Breakers) 6. Fiona Hammond (Sydney University Lions) 7. Kate Gynther (Brisbane Barracudas) 8. Gemma Beadsworth (Fremantle Marlins) 9. Taniele Gofers (Sydney University Lions) 10. Suzie Fraser (KFC Breakers) 11. Sophie Smith (Brisbane Barracudas) 12. Amy Hetzel (KFC Breakers) 13. Mia Santoromito (Cronulla Sharks) 14. Gemma Hadley (UWA Comets) 15. Mel Rippon (c) (Brisbane Barracudas) 16. Rebecca Rippon (Balmain Tigers) The team will be available for photos and interviews at Parramatta Pool, O'Connell St, Parramatta at 11.30am today. If interested in attending please call James Ward on 0409 458 661.

 

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