Two of the favourites for the Canoe Polo gold medals at The World Games Chengdu 2025 — Germany and New Zealand — have announced their line-ups.
The Germans, powerhouses in the sport, will arrive in China with men's and women's teams, while the New Zealanders will pin their hopes on the female category.
The German men's team are the defending champions, with the women's side winning silver at the previous edition of the Games in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, in 2022.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will be full of confidence in Chengdu as the 2024 International Canoe Federation Canoe Polo World Championships gold medallists.
Jonas Vieren is set to captain the German men's team with six of the eight members — Julian Oskar Prescher, Tim Riecke, Lennart Unterfeld, Arne Linus Beckmann, and Rene Kirchhoff — part of the squad that won gold four years ago in Birmingham.
Erik Beukenbusch and Leon Max Paul Konrad are the new additions.
The women's side will be led by Svenja Schaeper, who will have Jill Lara Rutzen, Nele Schmalenbach, and Leonie Wagner accompany her again.
Fresh faces include Esra Ozbay, Hannah Elisa Kunz, Nina Hachenburg, and Katharin Grunewald.
The German women's team, which won the 2018 and 2022 World Championships, did not finish on the podium in Deqing last year and will be looking to come back strongly in China.
Case Hales and Georgia Wheeler return to the Paddle Ferns team, hoping to upgrade their bronze from 2022, with Tania Dugdale set to be the skipper.
Hayley Austin, Jess Azevedo-Leader, Ava White, Alyssa Shepherd, and Emma Taylor complete the team.
The Kiwis have been preparing with intent for The World Games, having wrapped up the third and final national camp this week.
With the world champion tag, they are more than capable of going for gold in Chengdu.
Full squads
Germany men: Julian Oskar Prescher, Lennart Unterfeld, Tim Riecke, Erik Beukenbusch, Arne Linus Beckmann, Rene Kirchhoff, Jonas Vieren (captain), Leon Max Paul Konrad, and Bjron Zirotzki (coach).
Germany women: Jill Lara Rutzen, Esra Ozbay, Hannah Elisa Kunz, Svenja Schaeper (captain), Nele Schmalenbach, Leonie Wagner, Nina Hachenburg, Katharin Grunewald, and Mirko Günther (coach).
New Zealand women: Casey Hales, Hayley Austin, Jess Azevedo-Leader, Georgia Wheeler, Tania Dugdale (captain), Ava White, Alyssa Shepherd, Emma Taylor, and Andrew McFadzean (coach).
Related links
