China suffers opening loss in women's water polo at 2025 World Aquatics Championships

SINGAPORE, July 11 (Xinhua) -- China lost 15-7 to the United States in their first women's water polo Group B match on the opening day of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships here on Friday.

Facing the U.S., which finished fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympics, China came out strong in the opening quarter. After conceding the first goal, Zhang Qishuo equalized, and China managed to keep the score close for much of the first half.

China goalkeeper Du Xinyue managed to save one as the United States earned three penalty shots in the first period. In the second quarter, Wang Huan scored twice and Wang Xuan found the net to level the score at 4-4. However, the United States responded with three unanswered goals to take a 7-4 lead into halftime.

Both teams played with pace and intensity in the first half, but the United States gradually took control after the break. With strong shooting accuracy, greater possession and tighter defense, they steadily widened the gap on the scoreboard.

"We could do two periods close to them, but at the end we couldn't follow them," said China's newly-appointed head coach Miguel Oca.

Oca, a gold medalist with Spain's men's team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, coached Spain's women to victory at the Paris 2024, before taking over as the China coach earlier last month.

"I think there is a lot of potential, there are many young players, we're going to do our best every game."

In other Group B matches, the Netherlands cruised past Argentina 25-6 to join the United States at the top of the standings. China and Argentina are currently tied for third and will face each other on Sunday.

The 2025 World Aquatics Championships run from July 11 to August 3 in Singapore, featuring six disciplines: diving, artistic swimming, water polo, high diving, swimming and open water swimming. ■