Kazakhstan's women's water polo team opened its campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan with a 12-7 victory over Singapore (2-2, 3-1, 4-3, 3-1). The opening match of the water polo tournament went the way of the Kazakh side, infohub.kz reports.
Kazakhstan took its first lead of the game with three minutes left in the first period, going up 2-1. Singapore, however, managed to level the score before the break. After the second quarter, the Kazakhs led 5-3. In the second half, the team coached by Montenegrin specialist Zoran Maslovar extended its advantage and sealed an important 12-7 win. Center forward Olga Vorontsova and team captain and driver Anastasia Mirshina each scored four goals.
Six teams are competing in the women's water polo tournament at the Asian Games. The winner and medalists will be determined in a single round-robin format. Kazakhstan will face Japan tomorrow; the Japanese opened with a 27-7 rout of Thailand. On September 22, the Kazakhs will play Thailand, on September 23 they will meet tournament favorite China, and on September 24 they will take on Uzbekistan.
Kazakhstan's women's team at the 2026 Asian Games includes Alexandra Zharkimbayeva, Alina Ozkaya, Anastasia Mirshina, Anastasia Tsoy, Anna Novikova, Valeria Anosova, Viktoria Kaplun, Darya Pochinok, Yelizaveta Rudneva, Kamila Nauryzbayeva, Madina Rakhmanova, Maria Martynenko, Milena Nabiyeva, Olga Vorontsova and Yulia Druzhinina.
The women's water polo tournament is being held at the Asian Games for only the fourth time. China won all previous editions. Kazakhstan has finished as runner-up twice (2010, 2018) and claimed bronze twice (2014, 2022).
The 20th Summer Asian Games in Japan officially opened yesterday, September 19. The multi-sport event, featuring athletes from 45 countries, will award 460 sets of medals: 217 in men's events, 204 in women's events and 39 in mixed events. Competitions will be held in 68 disciplines across 41 sports.
Kazakhstan's delegation at the 2026 Asian Games will consist of 559 athletes. Today, Kazakh athletes have already won four gold medals. Cyclists Rinata Sultanova and Alexey Lutsenko, as well as karateka Zholaman Bigabyl and Sofia Berultseva, became Asian Games champions.