ZAGREB, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The first-ever World Aquatics Water Polo 4x4 Open Championships began Monday at the Old Town Harbour in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
The seven-day championships feature 17 men's teams and eight women's teams, including two men's teams from Hong Kong, China.
Similar to 3x3 basketball, the 4x4 format reduces the number of players on each side from seven to four and shrinks the playing area from about 25 by 20 meters to 15 by 12 meters, creating a faster-paced version of the sport suited to open-water and urban settings.
Each match is played over a maximum of four sets, with the first team to win three sets taking the match. If the teams are tied 2-2 after four sets, the winner is decided by a penalty shootout.
"WP4 has become World Aquatics' new event to combine sport with tourism, and Dubrovnik is the right place to start," World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam said.
World Aquatics hopes the format will lower barriers to participation, attract new audiences and help expand water polo in countries and regions with limited access to standard competition facilities. ■
