Dutch watersheds convincingly kicked off the Olympic qualifiers on Tuesday. National coach Arno Havenga’s side left Slovakia in the Group A match in Trieste, 22-2.
Martjie Keoning was the top scorer with six goals. Maud Meggins made four hits. With a score of 18-0 in the last quarter, Slovakia, hardly attacking, scored for the first time. Karen Kachova, one of the many young players, was responsible for this.
“We had to get there for a long time,” said Kyunning after Orange’s first game for a long time. Ziggo Sport. “But 22-2 is an excellent result. We wanted to go with our full energy and take advantage of the chances 100 per cent. We were very successful. The next match against Italy is more than a benchmark moment. Then we know more about our position.”
There are two tickets that will be distributed in Trieste for the Olympic Games next summer in Tokyo. This means that the decision is in the semi-finals. The Netherlands will also play host country Italy and France in the group stage in the coming days.
Japan, the United States, Spain, China, Canada, Russia, Australia and South Africa have already secured the Games in Tokyo. So there are two finalists in Trieste.
Dutch water racers won the Olympic gold medal in 2008, led by national coach Robin van Galen. In both 2012 and 2016, the Orange team failed to qualify for the games.
