Water polo in Malta
Water polo is one of the most popular sports in Malta, with the level of clubs being quite high.{{cite web|url=http://www.malta.com/en/attraction/sport-fitness/waterpolo|title=Waterpolo in Malta, enjoy one of the most popular sports on the island|first=Georgi|last=Mitev|website=www.malta.com}}
Maltese Water polo is administered by the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, with a respective section dedicated to this sport.{{cite web|url=http://www.asaofmalta.org/about/about.html|title=About ASA|website=www.asaofmalta.org}} Water polo activities are sponsored by Bank of Valletta.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-05-07/waterpolo/Waterpolo-More-interest-in-summer-league-as-clubs-are-seeded-according-to-last-year-s-placings-6736189455|title=Waterpolo: More interest in summer league as clubs are seeded according to last year’s placings - The Malta Independent|website=www.independent.com.mt}}
History
Water polo was played in Malta at the turn of the 20th century, and was already a well-contested sport in the 1920s, when Lord Plumer, then Governor of Malta, thought about the possibility of entering a Maltese team in the 1924 Summer Olympics. Eventually Lord Plumer left his post but the Maltese enterprised through the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, then called Amateur Swimmers Association.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2009-10-27/news/official-feature-of-the-maltese-olympic-committee-a-long-history-of-waterpolo-265408/|title=Official Feature of the Maltese Olympic Committee: A long history of waterpolo - The Malta Independent|website=www.independent.com.mt}} This was refused by the Dutch organising them on the grounds that Malta was not a country, and after a legal battle ensued for Malta to be able to accede, Malta entered the 1928 Summer Olympics. This process also led to the creation of the Malta Olympic Committee.{{cite web|url=https://nocmalta.org/about-us/history/|title=Malta Olympic Committee – History|website=nocmalta.org}}
Clubs
Previously there were much more teams,{{cite web|url=http://www.sliema-asc.org.mt/en/history|title=Sliema Waterpolo - History|website=www.sliema-asc.org.mt}} and there was even a league system specific to Gozo only.{{cite web |url=http://www.ottersasc.org/wp-content/uploads/ottershistory.pdf |title=History |website=www.ottersasc.org |format=PDF |access-date=2018-07-01 |archive-date=2018-06-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630214012/http://www.ottersasc.org/wp-content/uploads/ottershistory.pdf |url-status=dead }} Currently the clubs are:
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Club
!City !Division |
|---|
| Barracudas S.C.
| style="text-align:center;"| San Pawl il-Baħar |Maltese Water polo First Division |
| Birzebbuga A.S.C.
| style="text-align:center;"| Birżebbuġa |Maltese Water polo First Division |
| Exiles S.C.
| style="text-align:center;"| Sliema |Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
| Marsaskala S.C.
| style="text-align:center;"| Marsaskala |Maltese Water polo First Division |
| Marsaxlokk A.S.C.
| style="text-align:center;"| Marsaxlokk |Maltese Water polo First Division |
| Neptunes WPSC
| style="text-align:center;"| St. Julian's |Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
| Otters A.S.C.
| style="text-align:center;"| Żebbuġ, Gozo |Maltese Water polo First Division |
| San Giljan A.S.C.
| style="text-align:center;"| St. Julian's |Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
| Sirens A.S.C.
| style="text-align:center;"| San Pawl il-Baħar |Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
| Sliema A.S.C.
| style="text-align:center;"| Sliema |Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
| Ta' Xbiex W.C.
| style="text-align:center;"| Ta' Xbiex |Maltese Water polo First Division |
| Valletta United W.P.C.
| style="text-align:center;"| Valletta |Maltese Water polo Premier Division |
Domestic League
National Team
Malta has qualified for the 2016 Men's European Water Polo Championship{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-09-26/waterpolo/Waterpolo-Malta-obtain-historic-qualification-for-European-finals-in-Serbia-6736142687|title=Updated - Waterpolo: Malta obtain historic qualification for European finals in Serbia - The Malta Independent|website=www.independent.com.mt}}{{cite web|url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/sports/waterpolo/57563/malta_beat_poland_to_secure_historic_qualification|title=Malta beat Poland to secure historic qualification|publisher=}} and the 2018 Men's European Water Polo Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsmalta.com/2018/03/03/waterpolo-brilliant-malta-overcomes-belarus-to-qualify-for-european-championship/|title=Waterpolo: Brilliant Malta overcomes Belarus to qualify for European championship - News Malta - All Maltese & English news in one place|website=www.newsmalta.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mybetsfriend.com/2018/03/03/waterpolo-malta-dominates-qualifies-european-championships/|title=Waterpolo : Malta dominates and qualifies for the European Championships - MyBetsFriend|date=3 March 2018|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/sports/waterpolo/84989/malta_qualify_for_the_second_consecutive_european_championship_|title=Malta qualify for the second consecutive European Championship|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://lovinmalta.com/lifestyle/sport/malta-makes-history-to-qualify-for-prestigious-euro-water-polo-championship|title=Malta Makes History To Qualify For Prestigious Euro Water Polo Championship|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-03-03/waterpolo/Brilliant-Malta-overcomes-Belarus-to-qualify-for-European-championship-6736185635|title=Updated - Waterpolo: Brilliant Malta overcomes Belarus to qualify for European championship - The Malta Independent|website=www.independent.com.mt}}