4×4 is a new water polo format designed to make the game faster, more attractive to viewers, and more accessible to players. It is played in smaller spaces, and the goalkeeper immediately restarts the game after a goal.
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4×4 water polo matches consist of sets – each lasting five minutes, and the game is played until three sets are won.
The Lithuanian team at the first world championship was represented by Pijus Vadvilavičius, Skirmantas Motuzas, Ernestas Pumputis, Gvidas Zurza, Ignas Paškevičius, Janas Bakulo, Aurimas Jonkus, and Julius Goštautas. Our team had the opportunity to compete against elite water polo countries in Croatia.
In the first group matches, the Lithuanians lost 0:3 (1:4, 0:4, 3:4) to the Montenegro water polo players. Later, they were defeated 0:3 (2:4, 2:4, 1:5) by the USA team and had to acknowledge the superiority of the Malta team 1:3 (0:4, 2:3, 3:2, 3:5).
Finally, in the fourth match, the Lithuanian team achieved their first victory – 3:0 (4:0, 4:0, 4:3) against Saudi Arabia.
Not advancing to the quarterfinals, the Lithuanians continued to fight for final positions.
The Lithuanian team lost 1:3 (3:4, 4:5, 4:2, 1:5) to the Australians after a tough fight but finished the tournament with two wins – 3:0 (9:1, 8:0, 10:2) crushing Mongolia and 3:0 (6:2, 6:1, 6:4) defeating the Hong Kong team.
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“It’s very nice that Lithuania was accepted into this championship. It is a very valuable experience. Tough draws meant we did not make it into the top 12 teams, but the opportunity to play against teams like the USA, Australia, or Montenegro provided very valuable experience that will definitely be useful in the future,” emphasized the Lithuanian team coach Anatolijus Asajavičius.
The coach said that the Lithuanians had only 12 joint training sessions before the championship, so 13th place is not a bad result.
“I think that in the future we will also participate in world championships,” said A. Asajavičius.
16 teams participated in the first world 4×4 water polo championship. The gold medals were won by the Spanish team, who defeated Russia 3:2 in the final. In the bronze medal match, the Croatians proved superiority over the Serbs 3:0.
In the women’s competition, the Americans triumphed, defeating the Spaniards 3:0 in the final.
