PHNOM PENH - In the pool, Singapore water polo goalkeeper Lee Kai Yang is the master of holding his nerves.
This was on display on Sunday as he made several saves during the team’s 12-5 win over defending champions Indonesia moving them closer to reclaiming the SEA Games gold medal.
That facade of calm crumbled in the media mixed zone minutes after the win, as the Singapore captain stopped mid-sentence during an interview to rub his face and compose himself. Fighting back tears, he had to walk away from the scrum of reporters.
This was how much victory meant to Lee and his teammates, for they have waited four years to exact revenge on the team who stole their crown at the 2019 Games.
Indonesia had ended the Republic’s 54-year reign as the region’s water polo kings by handing them their first defeat 7-5) at the Games a loss that also halted their perfect run of 27 consecutive golds.
They drew with hosts Philippines to finish with a bronze that year and the sport was omitted from the 2022 edition in Hanoi.
Lee returned after a few minutes and, when asked about the significance of the win, he said: It means everything.
This story is from the May 15, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the May 15, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.
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