Oleksandr Svishchov, President of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation, Lviv philanthropist and active defender of Ukraine’s cultural heritage, shared his plans for 2025 and the challenges facing Ukrainian water polo.
Expectations from the resumption of the Super League
Oleksandr Svishchov expressed confidence that after the winter break, all the water polo players are looking forward to official matches.
“In Kamianske, we will have a round-robin match between the teams of Groups A and B. We expect a lot of interest among the fans “, he said.
Oleksandr Svishchov also noted that four main teams are competing for Super League medals: Water polo club Dynamo Lviv, Water polo club Mariupol, LFKS-Aquatico (Lviv) and NTU KhPI-SVSM (Kharkiv). However, the Zakarpattia region team, which also has a chance of medals, should not be ruled out.
Increased competition during the war
Satisfied with the revival of water polo, Mr. Svishchov emphasized that despite the difficult conditions of the war, the Federation is making every effort to preserve the sport. “Teams from the east are going through hard times, especially Kharkiv and Mariupol teams, which do not have regular training opportunities,” he explained.
However, he noted the growing competition, especially among teams with renewed rosters, such as Water polo club Mariupol and NTU KPI-SVSM.
Women’s Championship: expectations from the Major League
Oleksandr Svishchov is upset about the lack of competition in the women’s championship, but expressed hope that the situation will improve.
“Many young players left the country because of the war, and this weakened the teams. However, three teams are still competing for the championship, and we are working to attract more young people to water polo,” said Svishchov.
Target for 2025: international qualifications and tournaments
As for the main tasks for 2025, Oleksandr Svishchov emphasized the importance of international qualifications. In June this year, the men’s and women’s teams will participate in the qualifiers for the 2026 European Championships.
“The task of our teams is to win tickets to the final round,” the Federation president emphasized.
He also noted that the U-18 national team should retain its place in Group A after a great performance at the international tournament in the Czech Republic.
Oleksandr Svishchov: supporting cultural heritage and the military
Not only is Oleksandr Svishchov actively working on the development of water polo, but he also supports cultural and military initiatives. Recently, he helped to produce the documentary “Hammer”, which tells the story of a hero who will leave his mark on the history of Ukraine and its defenders. During the presentation of the film , Oleksandr Svishchov received gratitude from the military for supporting the project. The military expressed gratitude for his contribution to the production of the film, noting that “only through the joint efforts of the best representatives of Ukrainian society will we be able to liberate the occupied lands.”
As the President of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation, Oleksandr Svishchov not only oversees the development of the sport, but also actively supports cultural initiatives and charitable projects that strengthen the nation’s patriotic spirit. 2025 promises to be a busy year for Ukrainian water polo, and Svishchov himself continues to do everything to ensure that Ukrainian athletes achieve high results in international arenas.