Men's water polo: Consolation bronze for Kazakhs

Kazakhstan added a bronze medal to their three gold in the last four Asian Games by pushing IR Iran under, 12-8 in the men's water polo competition at Al-Sadd Sports Club. Kazakhstan's teamwork was outstanding with six of their players scoring. Their six-on-five offence was potent, scoring four out of six attempts.

The six-on-five power play is crucial in water polo, giving the team a chance to freely pass the ball knowing there is one fewer defender.

Kazakhstan took every quarter except the last, 4-3, 2-0, 3-2 and 3-3. Kazakhs Ruslan Orazalinov and Ivan Zaitzev led with three goals each. Yevgeniy Medvedev finished the tournament as the leading Kazakhstan goal-scorer with 10.

Kazakhstan played tight defence against IR Iran forcing them to pass into centre forward. IR Iran's outer forward Sayed Mir Mehdi had 14 goals heading into the bronze-medal match, but was unable to net a single goal, making the outside shooting of IR Iran less of a threat.

Captain Mohsen Rezvani of IR Iran scored three goals with two coming in the first quarter by tipping them into the goal from inside the two-metre line.

After the game, Kazakh coach Askar Orazalinov was jubiliant. "The pressure is off me now. We played very good and played strong. My team is a good team and the next time my team will be very strong and will win [the Asian Games]."

15th Asian Games, Doha 2006