SEA Games: S’pore waterpolo team clinch hard-fought gold

ALL content used in this not-for-profit blog remain the property of their respective owners.
http://www.tnp.sg/content/doc-helps-deliver-spores-25th-water-polo-gold

He had a robe on, but Singapore water polo goalkeeper Nigel Tay was shaking uncontrollably.

It was not because the 25-year-old was cold. He was actually in shock, having played more than half of his team’s 8-5 win over closest rivals Indonesia with a pulled groin muscle yesterday at the Zayar Thiri Swimming Complex.

When asked why he pushed himself so hard, Tay, a doctor at Changi General Hospital, said, with lips quivering: “I had to.”

A doctor would surely not have advised it, but he knew how important the match was.

With yesterday’s win, a record 25th successive SEA Games gold for the men’s water polo team was secured. After three wins, today’s match against hosts Myanmar — who were thumped 30-1 by Indonesia on Saturday — will be nothing more than a formality.

Tay was the hero yesterday. He made five stunning saves in the first half and continued his dominant form in the final quarter by making two point-blank saves to stamp his authority.