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SEA Games: Indonesian water polo enters new era with historic gold
The Indonesian water polo team started its intensive training camp in July, while Singapore had started earlier in January.
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Indonesian men's water polo player Ridjkie Mulia (left) prepares to pass the ball in a match against Malaysia during the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at New Clark City Aquatics Center in Tarlac, the Philippines on Friday. Indonesia won 14-7. (Antara/Humaira)
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split second after the umpire declared a draw for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games’ Singapore versus Philippines men’s water polo match on Friday, members of the Indonesian team cheered from the stands, knowing that it meant they had just won a gold medal.
The victory would be Team Indonesia’s first SEA Games gold for water polo.
The Philippines-Singapore match was held at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac, the Philippines. The draw placed Indonesia at the top of the leaderboard, with seven points from three wins and one draw. The team had defeated Malaysia 14-7 and led with a goal difference against 27-time SEA Games champion Singapore in a match that was a milestone for Indonesia.
For the first time in many years, Ridjkie Mulia and his teammates stopped Singapore's powerful 52-year domination on Thursday by producing the pivotal 7-5 win. The Lions have won 27 consecutive gold medals in men's water polo since the sport made its debut in the 1965 SEA Games.
Read also: /news/2019/10/29/sea-games-indonesian-water-polo-team-aims-to-break-singapores-52-year-domination.html" target="_blank">SEA Games: Indonesian water polo team aims to break Singapore’s 52-year domination
Indonesia’s best result against Singapore in the water polo competition was a draw in the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017.
Indonesia’s head coach, Milos Sakovic, knew that the Philippines Games would be an opportunity for the team to make history by breaking Singapore’s long-time domination. But he did not want to jinx it, keeping his players’ feet on the ground while boosting their optimism prior to the competition.
