SHENZHEN, 23 Aug. - While China retained its women¡¯s Universiade crown, Serbia was ushered in as the new men's champion after 13 days of competition in the spectacular Shenzhen Baoan Natatorium.

China remains the top team in women¡¯s water polo at the university level and rightfully so as 10 of the team played for the silver medal-winning senior team at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai in July.

However, three teams disregarded that ranking and forced China on to the ropes for at least half a game. China was rattled more than once but came through to win each game with a withering burst.

China played such superstars as MA Huanhuan, voted most valuable player in Shanghai and possibly one of the two best players in Shenzhen; centre forward SUN Yating; goalkeeper YANG Jun; SUN Yujun and many more.

There was no stopping the team once it came to the final rounds and the 9-0 halftime lead in the gold-medal final with USA proved its standing. China went on to win 14-4 as the youthful USA put the first half behind it and played up to China¡¯s high standard.

There was the revelation of Mexico as a new nation at international level; the occasional brilliance of Great Britain, which has already qualified for the 2012 London Olympic Games; the power shooting of Canada¡¯s Monika EGGENS with 23 goals and some wonderful play from the likes of bronze medallist Russia and fourth-ranked Italy.

The men¡¯s competition contained plenty of class players as well.

With Serbia winning the gold medal with an 11-8 margin over Russia, it was like a world senior event, although small errors were committed.

The antics of Marko PETKOVIC in steering Serbia to the gold with his five goals in the final; the rise of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in attaining the nation¡¯s first international team sport medal (bronze in the 10-7 defeat of the USA); the scoring machines Janson and Draco WIGO (USA), who are mirror identical twins; Japan¡¯s fifth placing; Australia¡¯s fall from champion to 12th ranking and even the ever-hopeful Singapore who struggled to score goals, let alone wins.

This was a powerful entrance to the senior level and the fact that so many senior international stars came to Shenzhen proved that the status of the event was held high by so many nations.

Dreams are started at an event like this and with the next Olympic Games less than a year hence, many of these athletes can expect a call-up to the highest level.