SALEM, WV – Former Salem International University standout Michael Izdinsky and the French National Team will compete at the 2017 FINA Men's Water Polo World Championships on July 17-29, 2017 in Budapest, Hungary at Duna Arena.
Izdinsky, who scored two goals and dished out five assists to lead the French National Team to a Ninth Place finish at the 2016 European Water Polo Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, on January 10-23, will join his teammates for the 17th FINA World Championships.
Click Here for the French Roster Announcement
2017 FINA World Championshps Schedule
This will be just the fourth time that France has competed in the Championships and first since placing 12th in the 1991 games in Perth, Australia. The French National Team placed 13th in 1982 at Guayaquil and brought home its highest-ranking in the games (eighth) in 1986 while in Madrid.
The complete French roster includes; Mathias Bachelier, Rémi Garsau, Michal Izdinsky, Manuel Laversanne, Sébastien Monneret, Cédric Rocchietta, Charles Canonne, Ugo Crousillat, Guillaume Dino, Arshak Hovhannisyan, Igor Kovacevic, Thibaut Simon, Hugo Fontani, Pierre-Frédéric Vanpeperstraete, Mathieu Peisson, Logan Piot, Rémi Saudadier, Mehdi Marzaouki.
France (B1) is paired in Group B with Australia (B2), Italy (B3), and Hungary (B4). The French will face Italy on the opening day of the Preliminary Round on July 17th. They will then face Australia on July 19th and Hungary on July 21st. The top finisher in each group will earn a bye to the Quarterfinal Round, while teams 2-4 from each group will battle on July 23rd for the right to advance.
The top-eight remaining teams after day six of competition will advance to the Final Round, with the winner of game 43 facing the victor of game 44. A champion will be crowned on July 29th in Budapest.
Izdinsky, a 2013 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) Division II All-American, established a Salem International single season record with 106 goals in his final season with the Tigers. He also garnered Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Scholar-Athlete Outstanding honors.
