Challenger Cup Women: Otter, Nevsehir and Strakonice off to winning starts on opening day of Qualification Round I

London Otter blew away hosts Partizan in Belgrade amidst a scoring festival on the opening day of the qualifications in the Challenger Cup Women. Elsewhere, Belediye beat Slavia Bratislava with ease, while Strakonice had to dig deep to bring down Esslingen.

2025/26 Challenger Cup Women
Qualification Round I
Group Stage, Day 1
Friday 5 December

Group A
(Strakonice)

Nevsehir Belediye SK (TUR) 17-11 Slavia UK Bratislava (SVK)
Asten Johnson Strakonice (CZE) 14-11 SSV Esslingen (GER)

Group B
(Belgrade)

ZVU Partizan (SRB) 14-28 London Otter (GBR)

Group A

Nevsehir Belediye SK (TUR) 17-11 Slavia UK Bratislava (SVK)
Asten Johnson Strakonice (CZE) 14-11 SSV Esslingen (GER)

In the opening match, Slavia UK Bratislava started promisingly as they killed two woman-downs, then struck first from action – only to see Nevsehir respond with seven goals in a row. The Turks quickly caught a wave and took firm control of the game.

Milana Molnar and Evangelia Loudi led their charge with seven and five goals respectively as they stormed to a 16-6 lead after three periods. They then eased off in the fourth, yet still won comfortably.

In the second clash, hosts Strakonice jumped to a 2-0 lead within 53 seconds, but perhaps it came too easily. They wasted their next two six-on-fives, and the Germans got on the scoreboard with an action goal midway through the period. While the Czechs failed to add more, Esslingen continued and struck three more times in the last two minutes to go up 2-4.

Though Lucie Votavova pulled one back early in the second with a centre shot, a fast double in 38 seconds restored a 3-6 advantage for Esslingen, and they still led 4-7 with two minutes remaining.

Nikola Busauerova then managed to net an extra-player goal 23 seconds from time – a morale-booster for the hosts, who came back strong after the restart and smashed in three straight action goals in a span of 84 seconds.

A time-out by the Germans helped somewhat, as they soon equalised, but again two quick goals followed – this time in 42 seconds – and Strakonice moved ahead 10-8.

A fine counter-attack goal halved the deficit, but Josefína Hola and the Czechs had the last laugh, a buzzer-beater made it 11-9.

Esslingen missed back-to-back six-on-fives within a single possession, and that proved crucial in the fourth period as Lucie Koubova buried a penalty from the ensuing counter to give her side a three-goal cushion.

Though more than five minutes remained, the Germans failed to score for a long stretch, managing only one goal with 1:06 left.

Karolina Hlavata then converted a six-on-five 42 seconds from time, effectively deciding the match at 13-10. Moments later Busauerova added another, with four seconds remaining, so Jamie-Julique Haas’ spectacular half-court shot at the buzzer served only as consolation for the losing team.

Group B

ZVU Partizan (SRB) 14-28 London Otter (GBR)

Hosts Partizan tried to keep up with the Brits for a while, managing to equalise from time to time, and three minutes into the second it was still 5-5 – though the Serbs could never take the lead.

Then the Londoners geared up, hitting three in 1:13 minutes and added another three a bit later, that time in a span of 1:17 minutes. This 0-6 whirlwind did the damage, and the young Serbians were unable to recover.

Indeed, the physical superiority of the Brits became increasingly visible on the scoreboard as the hosts were unable to withstand the pressure.

Their defence ceased to operate as they conceded 28 goals in total – 17 in the second half – which showed that they gradually ran out of steam, though they could still find the back of the net every now and then.

Great Britain captain, and former Catalunya star, Kathy Rogers was the standout performer for Otter with five goals.

Watch all European Aquatics water polo action live on European Aquatics TV

For full Challenger Cup water polo fixtures, results, stats and tables, click here

Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram

Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

The post Challenger Cup Women: Otter, Nevsehir and Strakonice off to winning starts on opening day of Qualification Round I first appeared on European Aquatics®.