SEA Games: Doctor helps deliver 25th gold

INDONESIA 5  SINGAPORE 8

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 Monday 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 Monday'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 Monday.

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 on the match.

The team had Lady Luck to thank, too, as the Indonesians were denied by the frame of the goal six times during the game.

Tom Hoad, the former Australia Olympic coach who currently acts as an adviser to the Singapore team, singled out Tay as his Man-of-the-match.

Team manager Samuel Wong, who planted a kiss on Tay's forehead after the match, said: "Our goal took a shelling, but he took everything."

Head coach Lee Sai Meng, a former national goalkeeper himself, said: "Nigel was outstanding. Without him we would have surely been chasing the game. He was damn good."

Despite the triumph, Lee was not satisfied with the overall performance.

WORRY

He said the attack was a "worry" as they failed to convert a number of good chances, although Indonesian goalkeeper Kurniawan was also in fine form.

Like Tay, he had an inspired game, making a number of crucial blocks, including one with his face in the second quarter.

Lee, who praised the defence, especially Loh Zhi Zhi, felt the team's attackers were just nervous.

"I think the pressure got to them," he said. "We even missed chances when we just had the goalie to beat.

"But retaining a title, especially one with such a history, is never easy."

The team will be presented their gold medal after today's match against Myanmar.

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