The Spanish women's cadet water polo team faces the World Championship in Zagreb starting this weekend. Player Irene López, who trained at the CAR in Sant Cugat, is the only representative from Andalusia in the squad.
Water polo player Irene López, from the Dos Hermanas PQS Club, is already in Croatia to compete in the U16 women's World Championship. The young athlete, aged 14, secured her place in the Spanish team after passing the demanding cuts during the previous training camp held at the High-Performance Centre (CAR) in Sant Cugat del Vallès.
The national team, composed of 14 players born in 2010 and 2011, is led by coaches Beatriz Espinosa and Judith Pujol. López is the only representative from Andalusia in the team, highlighting the level of the squad, which is mainly made up of water polo players from Catalan and Madrid clubs.
Spain has been placed in Group A of the first phase. The debut will be this Saturday at 11:30 against Serbia. On Sunday, at the same time, they will face the Netherlands, and will close the initial group stage on Monday at 13:00 against Turkey. The matches will take place at the SP Mladost Pool in Zagreb.
Irene López's presence at the World Championship is the culmination of an exceptional season. The player has been a key figure in the senior team of Dos Hermanas PQS in the Primera Nacional, helping to secure their place in the silver category. In addition, she has won titles in the Andalusian Cup and in the Andalusian leagues for seniors, youth, and cadets.
In the Spanish Championships, López established herself as the fourth top scorer in the cadet category and led her club to seventh place in the cadet tournament and sixth in the youth category. This impressive record caught the attention of the coaches and earned her a ticket to the intercontinental event.
The water polo player also carries on the family legacy in the national team. Her sister Marina, a teammate in the first team of Dos Hermanas PQS, was European champion in Zagreb in 2023 and U16 World Champion in Turkey a year later. A high bar that Irene aspires to match.
The CAR in Sant Cugat, where López trained alongside the other selected players, is one of the reference facilities for elite athletes in Spain. There, the players underwent a multi-day training camp with specific workouts and video sessions to fine-tune their preparation before travelling to Zagreb.
The U16 women's World Championship takes place from June 24 to 30 in the Croatian capital. Spain aims to improve on the gold medal won last year in Turkey, although the initial group presents a high level. Serbia, the Netherlands, and Turkey are formidable opponents in an increasingly competitive category.
For water polo fans in Sant Cugat and its surroundings, the presence of a player who has trained at the local CAR adds an extra layer of interest to the competition. Although López does not belong to any club in the province of Barcelona, her time at the high-performance centre connects her directly to the area.
The Spanish team is confident of advancing past the group stage and reaching the knockout rounds for the title. The first test, against Serbia, will be a crucial challenge to gauge the national team's aspirations.
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