MIKASA unveils revolutionary concepts in water polo ball Wemen’s size WP440C & Men’s WP550C, approved by the FINA as official game ball

On Friday 17 June, MIKASA introduced the FINA officially approved new MIKASA Water Polo Ball WP440C and WP550C at the Stopper Uszohas, a venue on the Danube River near the Duna Arena.

Mr. Yuji Saeki, President and CEO of MIKASA CORPORATION and FINA President Husain Al Musallam unveiled the FINA officially approved new MIKASA Water Polo Ball.

Mr. Saeki said, “First of all, I would like to extend to FINA President AL-Musallam, all the FINA staff members, the Hungarian Swimming Association, the Budapest 2022 Organizing Committee, and the Hungarian Government, my sincere appreciation of all your hard work to fulfil the FINA World Championships Budapest 2022”.

MIKASA believes that it will lead to enhance the playability of water polo balls if the following 3 factors could be improved:

•Whole Surface Firm Grip in Wet
•Reducing Rubber Waste
•Consistency in Quality

MIKASA has challenged to eliminate the difference in Grip between the vertical and parallel direction. Grip in wet usually is reduced due to the film of water, which is produced between the ball surface and player’s fingers, and also diminished when players put their fingers parallel to the “buffed surface” and its direction, which causes a difference in the gripping strength and affect the play of the games.

MIKASA has succeeded in achieving the solution:

•Changing to MIKASA newly developed “Foam Rubber” and eliminating the
long-cherished and advanced “buffing” process, it has led to more stable ball
quality and performance.
• Softness of “Foam Rubber” and Uneven Surface has led to increase Grip in
wet on the whole ball surface by 26%, comparing to the current Water polo
balls
• Elimination of buffing, “Environmentally Friendliness”, in Environment,
reducing the total volume of rubber waste by approximately 99%

Launching this state-of-the-art water polo ball next year at the FINA World Championships Fukuoka 2023 and going on sale in the first quarter of 2023 , MIKASA will continue to make efforts to boost the sports of water polo together with FINA, and MIKASA will strive for better ball quality and performance.