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Hungary Tops Greece in a Shootout to Win the Water Polo Title at the World Championships

In a dramatic duel in Fukuoka, the Hungary men's water polo team claimed its fourth world title, adding to its gold medals from 1973, 2003 and 2013.

Published

1 year ago

July 30, 2023

Ed Odeven

Hungary's players celebrate with coach Zsolt Varga in the pool after winning the men's water polo gold-medal match at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka on July 29. (Issei Kato/REUTERS)

Read the full story on SportsLook - Hungary Tops Greece in a Shootout to Win the Water Polo Title at the World Championships

For the Hungary men's water polo team, years ending with the digit "3" often produce impressive results.

Hungary captured its fourth gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships on Saturday, July 29 in Fukuoka.

Head coach Zsolt Varga's squad recorded a pulse-rising 14-13 victory over Greece in a sudden-death shootout in the title match on the next-to-last day of the tournament. The Hungarians previously won titles in 1973, 2003 and 2013.

Hungary led 4-2 after the first quarter and 5-4 entering the third quarter.

Greece evened the score at 7-7 heading into the final quarter. Konstantinos Genidounias played an integral role in Greece's comeback, scoring a goal in the second quarter and adding two more in the third.

It was a glimpse of the drama to come.

With 2:56 remaining in the fourth quarter, Genidounias fired a shot from 9 meters out into the net to make it 10-10.

And then the gold medal was up for grabs in the shootout.

Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven.