China hit 50 gold mark

[beijingwalker]

Moni Mathews / 27 November 2012

The Chinese national anthem was heard for an incredible 50th time on Sunday night as the curtain came down on the 9th Asian Swimming Championships at the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex.

That’s after China claimed both the men’s and women’s water polo titles in a night of high drama in the pool.

After 11 days of intense competition, the powerful Chinese team left Dubai with a total of 50 gold medals in their travel kit bag.

Thirty three out of a possible 38 of those were earned in the swimming events, seven out of seven in synchronised swimming, eight out of eight in diving, and two out of two in water polo.

Japan claimed a total of three golds and South Korea two. In the men’s water polo final, China squeezed past Asian number one, Kazakhstan 13-11 after extra time and a penalty shootout.

In the women’s final single round robin league game, China edged Kazakhstan 13-8.

“This isn’t the best moment for Chinese water polo. It’s been a long year and the players are tired so they made too many mistakes today (Sunday evening),” said China’s women’s coach Juan Jane.

“It wasn’t a beautiful game, but we are winners and the score is not important. And for the coaches and all the players it’s a gold medal so that is most important,” added Jane, who during his career led the Spanish men’s side to Olympic Games gold in 1996, and two world titles, in 1998 and 2001.

The men’s water polo final was a nerve-wracking affair which had to eventually be decided on penalties after China and Kazakhstan reached full time on 9-9. The Chinese eventually won 13-11.