HANGZHOU, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) — China’s males’s water polo crew pulled off an upset 14-13 win over defending champion Kazakhstan to succeed in the gold medal match on the Hangzhou Asian Games on Friday.
After Kazakhstan took a 3-2 lead within the first quarter, China managed to take care of a one or two-point benefit for many of the second and third quarters. The recreation reached a 10-10 tie on the finish of the ultimate quarter, resulting in a penalty shootout to find out the winner.
In the penalty shootout, neither crew might rating within the first 4 rounds. It wasn’t till the final spherical that China’s Chen Rui efficiently transformed his penalty, whereas Kazakhstan hit the submit, leading to a hard-earned victory for China.
Kazakhstan, a dominant pressure in Asian water polo and consecutive Asian Games champion, had been thought-about robust contender for the gold medal.
In the 2018 Asian Games, China had misplaced to Kazakhstan by a single aim within the semifinals. Kazakhstan then went on to defeat Japan and clinch the title, whereas China completed fourth.
“We have been preparing for many years just for this Asian Games gold medal,” mentioned China goalkeeper Wu Honghui, who placed on an distinctive efficiency within the match.
In the opposite semifinal, Japan defeated Iran 18-11. The winner of Saturday’s last will safe a spot on the 2024 Paris Olympics.