Asia Games: Kazakhstan Upsets Japan for Water Polo Gold
BUSAN, South Korea, Oct. 6. KAZAKHSTAN was the surprise winner of the gold medal in water polo in the Asian Games today, upsetting Japan 15-14 in a hard-fought, overtime game.
The two teams were tied 4-4 at halftime and 8-8 at the end of regulation play, but the Kazakhs pulled out the win in overtime.
The bronze medal match also saw a stubbourn battle. China took a 4-1 lead at the end of the first quarter and extended it to 5-1 at the half. In the second half, Iran kept trying to claw its way back into contention, but each time the Chinese thwarted the attempt by matching the Iranians goal-for-goal.
In the end, the four-point halftime lead proved to be the margin of victory, as China snatched the bronze 10-6.
Bronze Medal Game
People's Rep. of China
4 1 3 2 10
Islamic Republic of Iran
1 0 3 2 6
Gold Medal Game
Kazakhstan
1 3 2 2 15
Japan
1 3 1 3 14