India set to take on world’s best water polo teams

A Marlborough water polo player is set to step on to the world stage.

India Nathan, has flown off to compete in the 2026 World Aquatics under-16 world championships, to be held in Zagreb, Croatia, from 25-31 July, along with players from 24 countries across the globe.

India, the only travelling member of the team outside of the Auckland region, is part of a strong New Zealand girls’ team comprising the top 14 age group players from around the country. “I’m quite nervous actually,” she admits, “but hopefully it’s lots of fun”.

After “seven or eight” years playing water polo, India has steadily risen up the ranks – a testament to her passion and work effort.

She was named in the NZ under-16 development squad in early 2025, going on to represent NZ in October last year as part of the NZ under-15 team at the Australian State Championships. Team NZ came away with a silver medal after the final went to a penalty shoot-out.

Since that tournament her excellence in the water has seen her make the under-16 squad to compete in the World Championships. Throughout this selection process she has attended multiple training and squad reduction camps in Auckland. After her final selection camp in May 2026, she had to wait nervously for the nod, recalling that she “didn’t expect to make the team”, but had, “hoped that she would”.

Competing at a national level involves many hours fine tuning technique and skill. For India a typical week involves 5-6 water polo sessions in the pool along with 4-5 days in the gym. She says this schedule hasn’t changed much despite the forthcoming challenge, apart from beginning to taper as the start date to the event creeps closer.

The team will spend two weeks in Croatia, the first week spent acclimatising as well as partaking in a training camp before the seven-day tournament when they will take on some fierce competition. The first four days will see them compete against Czech Republic, Italy, China and Zimbabwe, before they move on to the knockout stages.

All NZ’s opponents will need to look out for India’s precise aim, as the centre forward’s strength lies in goal shooting.

After Croatia, India has her sights set on the next Junior Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Malta at the end on next year. In the long run she aims to “just continue (water polo) for as long as I can and get the most out of it”.

India says this exciting opportunity would not have been made possible without the effort of all of the coaches she has been lucky to train under, both within and outside of Marlborough. She specially acknowledged Alastair Keay, who has been coaching her throughout the entire journey, the Marlborough Water Polo Club and its members, both in and out of the pool. She also thanked Inspire Foundation Marlborough and Glen Morrison of Floorpride Marlborough for their support.