At the start of the Under-20 World Cup women’s water polo tournament in Salvador, Brazil last week, an unexpected battle broke out. When gunshots erupted near the venue, most were in shock. The quarterfinal match between China and Canada was just getting underway when the gunfire erupted. Players scampered out of the pool and ran for shelter. Luckily so, as no injuries have been reported by Brazilian police as a result of the fiasco.
As of the time of the disruption, China was defeating Canada 3-2. The concertgoers jumped immediately to the horrifying sounds. They sprinted out of the water and sheltered behind an old blast wall to protect themselves from enemy fire. The game was stopped for at least a minute before play restarted. Ultimately, China emerged victorious, defeating Canada 12-8.
The tournament is a special one as Brazil hosts the Under-20 World Cup for the first time. It includes 16 of the best teams in the country won as a title. The recent shooting incident took place in the Pituba neighborhood, not far from the water polo competition venue.
Marco Antonio Lemos, president of the Bahia state water sports federation, spoke out on the matter. He wanted to give the impression that the police were in absolute control.
“The match stopped for about a minute. Our team saw that the police were taking care of it.” – Marco Antonio Lemos
As the event still continues to unfold, witnesses describe a chaotic scene as police and military officials search for the source of gunfire. As players and fans continue to be on edge, protecting everyone involved with the tournament will be paramount.
