Hungary's Water Polo Coach Varga Zsolt Eyes Los Angeles Olympics in Player Selections

Hungarian national water polo team coach Varga Zsolt is making strategic player selections with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as the ultimate goal. He emphasized that the current choices are designed to ensure the best possible 13-player squad is ready for the Olympic Games.

"The selection of players is currently subordinated to a single goal: to have the best thirteen travel to the Los Angeles Olympics," Varga stated, as quoted by the sport's governing body. He explained that resting older players is intended to keep them in peak form for the 2027 World Championships and beyond. Similarly, developing younger players or assigning them specific tasks is aimed at preparing them for the critical phase of deciding the final Olympic roster.

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The selection of players is currently subordinated to a single goal: to have the best thirteen travel to the Los Angeles Olympics.

The coach indicated that the period of evaluating potential new talents is over. "From now on, we will primarily work with these players," he said, signaling a focus on a core group. Varga also previously explained that Zalánki Gergő's absence from the European Championships had a specific reason, and that the player would be part of the squad for the summer, despite not participating in the World Cup qualifiers.

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If we rest one of the older players now, it's so that they can be in top form at next year's World Championships in Budapest and still be at their peak two years from now; if we are building up one of the younger players, or they are doing special work, it is so that they arrive as prepared as possible for the most important phase when we have to decide on the Olympic thirteen.

The Hungarian team is scheduled to compete in a home preparation tournament from July 3-5 against the Netherlands, Serbia, and Georgia. Following this, they will travel to Australia on July 12 for another preparatory tournament. This will precede their World Cup quarterfinal match against Croatia on July 23.

The roster includes goalkeepers Csoma Kristóf, Gyapjas Viktor, and Vogel Soma. Field players named are Burián Gergely, Dala Máté, Ekler Bendegúz, Fekete Gergő, Jansik Szilárd, Kovács Péter, Leinweber Olivér, Lugosi Csongor, Manhercz Krisztián, Nagy Ádám, Nagy Ákos, Német Toni, Simon Henrik, Szalai Péter, Szépfalvi Gergely, Tátrai Dávid, Varga Vince, Vigvári Vendel, Vigvári Vince, Vismeg Zsombor, and Zalánki Gergő.

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From now on, we will primarily work with these players.