NEW CLARK CITY — Iran showcased its prowess in the men's water polo competition at the 11th Asian Age Group Championships, overpowering Malaysia with a decisive 34-3 victory at the New Clark City Aquatic Center on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Ali Abolghasemi led the Iranian team with eight goals, while teammates Soheil Pargari, Mohammadamin Sadeghinezhad, and Arhsia Abdollahifar each contributed four goals to the win.
Malaysia, facing its second consecutive defeat after losing to Singapore 8-23 on Sunday, struggled to find its rhythm against Iran's relentless attack. Brandon Wong Li Hoong and Teo Zun Jet were the only Malaysian players to score, managing two and one goals, respectively.
In other matches, Uzbekistan edged out Thailand 17-14, thanks to Artur Vishyakov's five-goal performance, while Japan and Singapore recorded commanding victories over Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka, with scores of 23-5 and 35-3, respectively. With these results, Uzbekistan, Japan, and Singapore each hold a 2-0 record, leading their groups in the early stages of the tournament.
The championship features teams from two groups, with Japan, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, China, and Thailand in Group A, and Iran, Singapore, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Sri Lanka making up Group B. The tournament continues to highlight the competitive spirit and skill of Asia's emerging water polo talents.