Three time Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion from Hungary, Gergely Kiss will arrive in Sri Lanka on the 6th of June for a 3 week training program with the Men’s and Women’s Water Polo squads of Sri Lanka.
The program is supported and guided by Hon. Namal Rajapaksha under his motive to empower sports in Sri Lanka to the next level. The program is hosted by Sri Lanka Water Polo and Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union
Due to the recent development and improved performances of the National and Junior National teams of Sri Lanka in the International arena Gergely Kiss has accepted the Invitation of Sri Lanka Water Polo to conduct a 3 week training program in Sri Lanka.
Gergely Kiss is a 3 time Olympic Champion winning Gold medals in 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athena and 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Kiss is regarded as World’s best Left handed Water Polo player and has also won Gold medal at the 2003 Barcelona World Championship Games. Kiss is widely regarded as the prime factor for Hungary winning the 2004 Olympic finals in Athens against Serbia and Montenegro. Kiss scored 3 goals in the finals and brought back Hungary in to the game after trailing at the end of 1st quarter and also scored the match winning goal. He was voted to the All Star team at the conclusion of the Olympic Games. Gergely Kiss has done huge development with the Ireland and Malta Water Polo teams during his previous visits to those countries.
Gergely Kiss will also work with local schools and club’s to improve their level of play during his visit to Sri Lanka and also as a part of the program he will visit schools and clubs outside Colombo and Kandy area to spread the Water Polo across Sri Lanka and educate many school’s with swimming pool facilities to begin Water Polo.
Gergely Kiss will also participate in an Exhibition match with Sri Lanka Navy and Old Thomian Swimming Club on the 15th of June at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool Complex from 4pm onwards. Local Water Polo lovers can get glimpse of Olympic style Water Polo during this match. This will be a huge boost to young and upcoming Water Polo players to see and get an idea of how best in the game handle the game of Water Polo.
Commenting on the program Head coach of Sri Lanka Water Polo Lt. Malaka Chandaradasa mentioned that ‘this program will be a definite progress for Sri Lanka Water Polo as a whole. We have seen the remarkable improvements he has done with Ireland and Malta teams and we believe this will help us get to the next level. Especially this program has come just months before the Asia Pacific Water Polo Tournament in Hong Kong in August and we believe our players can get many inputs from this tournament which will be useful in Hong Kong’.
Sri Lanka Airlines is the Official Sponsor for Sri Lanka Water Polo teams and Turkish Airlines and Jetwing Hotels are event partners for this program. Sri Lanka Water Polo would also like to thank Inspector General of Police Mr N.k.Ilankoon and Vice Chancellor of Sri Jayawardenapura University for their support extended for this program. Water Polo is one of the five disciplines controlled by Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union, the national body for aquatic sports affiliated with FINA, the international federation and is promoted under the banner of Sri Lanka Water Polo.
