Moscow/Sydney – Russia will continue its return to international sport when its women’s water polo team competes at the World Cup finals in Sydney this July.
The team secured qualification after finishing first in the World Cup Division II tournament held in Malta last month. Their participation was officially confirmed when tickets for the July 22–26 event went on sale.
Russia’s inclusion comes after World Aquatics lifted its blanket ban on Russian athletes in April, allowing them to return to international competition despite ongoing controversy surrounding the war in Ukraine.
Under World Aquatics regulations, local organisers do not decide which teams are invited to compete. Russia will join Australia, China, Hungary, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United States in the eight-team tournament.
Russia’s women’s team has a strong international record, including Olympic bronze medals in Sydney and Rio and a silver medal at the 2018 World Cup finals. Although absent from global competition since 2021, their recent performances suggest they could be strong contenders for a medal in Sydney.
Meanwhile, Russia’s men’s team failed to qualify after Ukraine refused to play against them during the qualification event in Malta.