Players compete at a water polo competition. [Photo/hangzhou2022.cn]

The "Exciting Hangzhou" 2023 National Women's Water Polo Championship will be held at the Huanglong Sports Center Swimming & Diving Center in Zhejiang province from May 13 to 17 and is expected to feature some intense competition.

This event comes with affordable ticket prices, starting as low as 20 yuan ($2.88), roughly the cost of a cup of milk tea.

Water polo, also known as "water soccer," is one of the official sports at the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games scheduled for September. It combines swimming, handball, and volleyball and emphasizes strength, bravery, and teamwork. The objective is to score goals by throwing the ball into the opponent's net. Throughout the game, players must remain afloat in the water, strictly avoiding contact with the pool bottom and walls, making it a demanding sport and strong test of endurance.

Although water polo in China had a slower start compared to Europe and the Americas, it has witnessed rapid development in recent years.

China's men's and women's water polo teams have won numerous Asian Games championships. The Chinese women's water polo team, in particular, has secured three consecutive titles in the past three Games. This year, they have high hopes for a fourth consecutive championship on home soil.

As a significant rehearsal event leading up to the main competition of the Hangzhou Asian Games, the championship this year will feature seven teams from Shanghai, Guangdong, Shandong, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, and Tianjin. Nearly 200 athletes will participate over the course of five days, making it the largest domestic tournament for the sport.

A panoramic view of the Huanglong Sports Center Swimming & Diving Center. [Photo/hangzhou2022.cn]