▲ Han Hyo-min fires a powerful shot
The South Korean men's water polo team has defeated China for the first time in Asian Games history.
The South Korean national team defeated China 15-14 in their Group B opening match of the men's water polo tournament at the Rainbow Pool of the Nagoya Municipal Gymnasium in Japan on the 26th.
It was a fierce, neck-and-neck battle that went back and forth throughout the match.
South Korea took the early initiative by winning the first quarter 3-1, but struggled against China's fierce counterattacks in the second and third quarters, leaving the score tied at 10-10 by the end of the third quarter.
The game was decided during a slugfest in the final fourth quarter.
Both teams engaged in a fierce offensive battle, trading a total of nine goals in the fourth quarter alone.
With the score tied at 14-14 and 4.8 seconds remaining in the game, Han Hyo-min (Gwangju Jeonnam Sports Council) found the back of the net to give South Korea a 15-14 lead.
South Korea then calmly fended off China's final offensive push to complete a dramatic one-goal victory.
On the offensive end, Han Hyo-min led the attack by scoring a team-high four goals.
Starting off on a high note by defeating formidable opponent China in their opening group match, South Korea secured a pleasant first win and gained an advantageous position in the race to advance to the knockout stage.
The South Korean men's water polo team is aiming for its first medal in 36 years, since the 1990 Beijing Asian Games.
(Photo: Xinhua, Yonhap News)
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