GWANGJU, South Korea, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Hosts South Korea were blasted by Hungary 64-0 in the women's water polo preliminary round at the 18th FINA World Championships here on Sunday.

The merciless Hungary ran riot over the debutant South Korea, scoring 34 goals in the first half and 30 more in the latter half in the Group B match at Nambu University Water Polo Competition Venue in Gwangju, about 330 km south of South Korea's capital Seoul.

It was the largest margin in water polo history at the world championships. The previous record was set Saturday, when the Netherlands destroyed South Africa 33-0 in the Group A game.

South Korea received a spot in the preliminary round as the host nation, hastily forming its first-ever women's water polo team about a month ago.

In the Group B, the fledgling South Korean team will fight against Russia on Tuesday and Canada on Thursday each.

At the previous world championships in Budapest two years ago, Russia, Canada and Hungary finished third, fourth and fifth respectively.