In a thrilling showdown on Sunday in Zhaoqing, Guangdong, the Chinese women's water polo team clinched the Asian Championship title by edging out Japan in a nail-biting penalty shootout.
China had dominated their first four games with ease, but Japan stepped up their game in the finals. Early on, Japan capitalized on their numerical advantage, taking a 4-1 lead in the first quarter. Despite a shaky start with a few missed goals, the Chinese team didn’t give up and made a strong comeback.
Both teams showcased young and talented players, making the match intense and highly competitive. The game remained tight, ultimately leading to a decisive penalty shootout. In the end, China triumphed with an 18-17 scoreline, thanks to the outstanding performance of their goalkeeper and captain, Shen Yi, who made three perfect saves.
Shen shared her thoughts on the final moments: \"The last shot of the penalty shootout was not so difficult for me because I know my opponent well. We've been competing against each other since the 2018 Asian Games. She is also a veteran in her team. So I just knew which way she would throw and I trusted my guts, based on all my experience before and our preparations for this match. I didn't think too much. So it was not very difficult for me.\"
Congratulations to the Chinese women's water polo team for their hard-fought victory and for bringing the championship home!
NewspaperAmigo – Your Global News Buddy 
