Asia Games: Kazakhstan Upsets Japan for Water Polo Gold -- October 6, 2002

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