SINGAPORE — Pleasure was restored for Singapore as the lads’s nationwide water polo crew reclaimed the gold medal on the 2023 SEA Video games in convincing style as they received all their 5 matches within the round-robin competitors on the Nationwide Olympic Stadium Swimming Centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Republic’s 52-year reign because the water-polo king led to 2019 after dropping factors within the event. 4 years in the past, Singapore needed to accept the bronze medal after dropping to eventual gold medallist Indonesia they usually had been additionally held to a draw by the Philippines within the event.
This win is especially particular for a number of the gamers who had been coaching onerous after that fateful loss in 2019, as they needed to endure and sit out the earlier SEA Video games as water-polo was not included as one of many contested sports activities in Vietnam final yr.
“Having needed to wait an additional Sea Video games cycle for an opportunity to reclaim the gold, the win this yr was very satisfying because it was a validation of our efforts for the previous 4 years,” stated 32-year-old Koh Jia Ying who’s taking part in his sixth SEA Video games.
Decided to set it proper this time, Singapore known as upon a number of veteran gamers resembling Yip Yang, Paul Tan, Eugene Teo and Loh Zhi Zhi they usually performed a key function in Cambodia. Led by captain Lee Kai Yang, Singapore began their marketing campaign brightly with a 12-7 win in opposition to Thailand, earlier than they confirmed their supremacy in opposition to their Causeway rivals Malaysia, profitable 14-1 within the second match.
All eyes had been on the third match because the gamers would bear in mind painfully how the loss in opposition to the Indonesians again in 2019 value them the gold medal. However there was no error this time round because the Singapore water-polo gamers displayed energy and resilience within the pool to win 12-5. Singapore went on to win their subsequent two matches in opposition to the Philippines (10-4) and host (Cambodia 22-14) to rightfully win again the lads’s water-polo gold medal which they received for 27 consecutive SEA Video games earlier than it led to 2019.
“It’s positively a aid to have the ability to convey again the gold after dropping it in 2019. We labored onerous and sacrificed a lot and in the end we obtained the job accomplished,” expressed Darren Lee Jit-An who was a part of the SEA Video games squad in 2017 and 2019 too.
Following the Singapore males’s nationwide water-polo crew’s triumph in Cambodia, the Singapore Swimming Affiliation stated that the victory symbolizes redemption and the restoration of their rightful place on the pinnacle of the game.
“This gold medal isn’t just for the gamers; it’s a testomony to the legacy created by those that got here earlier than us, those who paved the best way and excelled within the sport. It’s a image of unity and energy, representing the unwavering spirit of the Singaporean individuals. Along with your unwavering assist, we had been capable of rise from defeat and stand tall as soon as once more, reminding the world of the resilience and indomitable spirit that defines us as a nation,” posted Singapore Swimming Affiliation on their Fb web page.
The Singapore ladies’s nationwide water polo crew completed second within the three-team spherical robin competitors and received the silver medal. They received 10-6 in opposition to Indonesia, and misplaced 4-11 to gold medalist Thailand.
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