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7/12/2009
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Australia the Champion
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Silver for Croatia, Bronze for Serbia.
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Australia won the gold medal in the water polo tournament at the 25th summer Universiade. The new champion defeated Croatia in the final match with the score of 6:4. Serbia defeated Greece to get the bronze medal.
Croatians were better in the opening minutes of the final match, got off to a 2:0 start, but Australia tied them in the second quarter. Australia then continued with the high quality game until the end of the match and proved they are the strongest team on the tournament.
- I feel fantastic – said Paul Oberman, the coach of the Australian selection – We made a winning combination of youth and experience. This is a big achievement, we can celebrate now. Some of these guys will play at the World Championship, others will play in our junior selection. At this moment, I am a very happy coach.
In the bronze medal match, Serbia justified its role as a favorite and defeated Greece with 9:4. Serbia was playing confidently and got a 5:1 lead after the first two periods, which resolved the question of the winner.
- I do not know why we talk about gold only, a medal is a medal – said Dejan Stanojevic, the Serbian coach. – I congratulate my players on their fighting spirit, they demonstrated will power, and more than anything their motivation to continue fighting after the loss in the semifinals. This is probably our best match at the tournament. We won a medal, and we continue on.
Hungary defeated the USA with 9:8 in the match for the fifth place, while Russia got the seventh place with a 8:5 triumph against Italy.
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