HANGZHOU, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Japan defeated China 11-7 in the men's water polo final at the Hangzhou Asian Games on Saturday to secure their qualification for the Paris Olympics.
Both teams displayed strong defensive abilities at the beginning of the match, making it difficult for either side to make progress in attack, as only Japan managed to score in the first quarter.
Japan built up their lead in the second quarter through more offenses into the second half by 5-1.
China rallied to take some effective attacks in the second half and scored four goals in the third quarter but was still not enough to level the score. Japan extended their momentum in the fourth quarter, sustaining their lead until the final whistle.
"We didn't execute our tactics well, and we didn't perform well in the first two quarters. However, we are grateful to the crowds who always supported us all through the tournament," said Chinese player Peng Jiahao.
In an earlier match, Kazakhstan and Iran drew 7-7 in four quarters and Kazakhstan narrowly defeated Iran through a penalty shootout with a score of 10-9 for the bronze. ■
