SINGAPORE – Serbia’s water polo gold rush at the Olympics began in Rio 2016, followed by triumphs in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

Last August, their three-peat sparked celebrations in the Paris La Defense Arena, when the coaching staff celebrated with the players by leaping into the pool fully clothed.

The water polo giants will be hoping for more scenes of joy when the action kicks off at the World Aquatics Championships at the OCBC Aquatic Centre on July 11, with the women’s tournament, followed by the men a day later.

While Serbia have dominated at the Olympics, top honours at the world event has been elusive of late.

Since winning the world title in 2015 and earning bronze in 2017, their results have steadily declined: two fifth-placed finishes, fourth, and most recently, sixth in Doha in 2024.

On the hunt to end their decade-long drought, the team chose not to refresh their squad after the end of the Olympics, with nine members of the Paris Games champions among their 15-man team in Singapore.

Strahinja Rasovic, 33, a key member of the team here, has two Olympic golds (2020, 2024) but no world championship medals.

In 2017, when Serbia won bronze at the World Championship, he was injured and not selected.

Rasovic told the World Aquatics website that the absence of medals at World and European championships rankles.

“When you are playing for Serbia, expectations are always the highest. I miss medals from World and European competitions; I hope and I believe that I will win them with my friends,” said Rasovic, who plays for Serbian club Radnicki Kragujevic.

Serbia are in Group A alongside Italy, Romania, and South Africa.

He added: “Like always, the preparation period is so intensive. We’re in a good atmosphere and doing hard work, so we are getting ready for Singapore.”

Beaten finalists in Paris, Croatia are also out for redemption after losing 13-11 in a tightly contested final battle with the Serbs.

Afterwards Croatia veteran Maro Jokovic told reporters he felt “a huge emptiness”, and that “all I know is that this defeat will be in our minds for a long time”.

Revenge could be a dish best served cold in the Singapore heat. The defending champions are in Group D with Montenegro, Greece and China.

Croatia captain and goalkeeper Marko Bijac said at the World Aquatics Championships press conference on July 10 that his team are very motivated.

He added: “This (World Championships) is, with Olympics, the biggest competition, that a water polo player can be part of, so motivation for sure will not be a problem here.”

Other teams who are in the mix include Spain, who won the 2025 Water Polo World Cup in April, perennial contenders Hungary and Paris Olympics bronze medallists United States.

The 16 teams have been split into four groups of four for the preliminary round, with group winners advancing to the quarter-finals while the second and third teams enter the play-off with another chance to qualify for the last eight.

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In the women’s tournament, other nations are also aiming to end their title droughts.

Spain, who claimed their first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s water polo at Paris 2024, are aiming for their first world title since 2013.

Heading into the Lion City with a fresh world No. 1 ranking, they will face Britain, South Africa and France in Group D.

Spanish water polo star Bea Ortiz told the World Aquatics website that winning the Olympic gold was the highlight of her career, and that she was thrilled to see Spain’s success recognised in the world rankings.

Ortiz, 30, said: “Women’s water polo is developing rapidly around the world, and there are so many strong teams in competition, so to be ranked above all of them is a great honour. This will motivate us to try and maintain top spot, beginning at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.”

Also out for redemption are the US women’s team, who had a disappointing campaign in Paris as the three-time Olympic champions finished outside the medals for the first time. Winner of five of the last six world titles, for the Americans a sixth victory here will go some way to soothing their Paris pain.

But the teams should watch out for other contenders like Greece – who won the World Cup in April – Australia and the Netherlands, who won the silver and bronze respectively at the Olympics.

Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports journalist at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news.

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