ANOTHER STEP CLOSER

By Jeannette Xavier

Picture By Danny Toh

Strong performances from players like Luo Nan,Yip Ren Kai, Alvin Lee, Nigel Tay and Kenneth Wee led our water polo team (in picture) to their second win in Laos on Sunday (Dec 6) and a step closer to their quest for a record 23rd consecutive SEA Games gold medal.

Proud Record

The boys, keen to maintain their proud record of never losing the top spot in this competition, routed their main rivals the Philippines 8-1. The win came a day after they beat Indonesia 14-5. With these two impressive wins, the boys are well on track for yet another SEA Games gold.

Final Match

What they need to do next is beat Thailand in the final match of the four-team, round-robin tournament. This should not prove too difficult as they outclassed the Thais 10-5 in the final of the Singapore Water Polo Invitational Open, a SEA Games warm-up, earlier this year. Also going by the form of the Singapore players in Vientiane, Thailand certainly will have to exceed themselves to create an upset.

Stay Tuned

Still, Luo Nan and company are not taking anything for granted. Sure, the Thais didn't look too sharp in their 8-11 loss to Indonesia on Sunday unlike the Singapore side in their matches against both Indonesia and the Philippines. But everyone in sport knows only too well that the ball is round - even in the water. And it isn't over until it's over. So stay tuned as we bring you the latest from Vientiane.