Australia claimed fifth position with a stunning 14-7 victory over Netherlands on the final day of women’s action at Tatsumi Water Polo Centre. The match marked the end of a handful of international careers, including dual Olympic bronze medallist Bronwen Knox (AUS) who went out with two goals and 28 in her four Olympic Games. In the earlier match that decided seventh position, Canada played its best water polo of the fortnight with a 16-7 margin over China.
Two teams with such a proud record on the international women’s scene, faced off for the fifth-place classification with Australia beating Netherlands 14-7.
Australia finished first, third, fourth, third and sixth in its five previous Olympic appearances and, along with Russia (ROC) and United States of America, has contested all six Olympic competitions.
The Dutch returned to the Olympic fold after two Olympiads in the wilderness after beating United States of America 9-8 in the Beijing 2008 gold-medal final.
In a match where the referees allowed the players to decide the result, the Aussie Stingers surprised the Dutch with a withering burst in the first quarter, firing in five goals to Netherlands’ one. Keesja Gofers, in her second Olympic Games, scored twice in the period with lob goals.
Gofers made it three goals as she started the second quarter with another lob, bringing up her third of the
match, eighth goal at Tokyo 2020 and 13th of her Olympic career. Simone van der Kraats nailed her 26th goal in Tokyo when she converted her fifth penalty goal here. Matilda Kearns with a centre-forward backhand and Bronwen Knox (pictured) with a last-gasp slider from nine metres, closed the half at 8-2.
Knox, in her fourth Olympic Games and a dual bronze medallist, scored her second early in the third period after Vivian Sevenich backhanded from the right-post position. Knox’s second goal gave her eight in Tokyo, the 28th Olympic goal in her 312th and last international. She confirmed after the match that she would allow youngsters the chance that she was afforded and stated that she was the fittest she had every been and thoroughly enjoyed her last Olympics. Maud Megens landed her sixth penalty goal for 9-4 — her 17th goal in Tokyo. Lena Mihailovic and Amy Ridge, on extra, closed the third-period scoring, giving the Stingers a huge 11-4 advantage.
Bronte Halligan cross-caged her second goal from the top right for her 10th goal. Van der Kraats came in from the deep right and Sevenich backhanded a goal from five metres for her second and seventh in Tokyo. Both teams took a timeout in the closing stages and van der Kraats, with her 28th, converted extra. Abby Andrews sliced in from the deep right and the Dutch called a timeout and announced that captain Dagmar Genee and Nom Stomphorst were ending their water polo careers at international level, gaining a huge clap. There was no goal for the Dutch; Australia went to a timeout — somewhat prolonging the inevitable — and Ridge scored from the top for 14-7.
Australia was the inaugural Olympic champion, beating USA with a last-second goal in front of 17,000 people in Sydney 2000. Australia has won Olympic, World and three World Cup crowns, but not a World League, where it has four silvers and six bronzes.
Netherlands has won Olympic gold, world championship gold and a staggering eight World Cups, as well as the 1996 Olympic Year Tournament, a forerunner to the inaugural Olympic Games. It has a single World League bronze medal.
Kitty Joustra (NED) found no joy with either a goal or a victory in her 100th international.
Match 30, 14:30, NETHERLANDS 7 AUSTRALIA 14
Classification 5-6
Quarters: 1-5, 1-3, 2-3, 3-3.
Referees: Xevi Buch (ESP), Dion Willis (RSA).
Shots: NED: 7/31. 1/5. AUS: 14/32.
Extra Man: NED: AUS: 4/7.
Pens: NED: 2/2.
FLASH QUOTES
Predrag Mihailovic (AUS) — Head Coach
“Unfortunately we couldn’t have preparation games. I’m really proud of my team and staff. After losing the quarterfinal, we bounced back, showing the character of the team
Bronte Halligan (AUS) — Two Goals
“It’s not been an easy Games; to come out and play the way we did, I’m really proud of all the girls; we had a bit of fun; some of these girls it’s their last games with us. It’s really bittersweet. We wanted to do it for them and we wanted to do it for Australia to inspire the other kids sitting at home watching us, knowing that we didn’t do what we wanted to do at the Games."
Bronwen Knox (AUS) — Retiring Four-Time Olympian
“I’ve sort of swung back to a position that I started with in centre back. I had a bit more freedom to move around and control the game. I was really happy with the way I played this week (fortnight). My goal was to go out there and control the controllables. I was a s fit as I’ve ever been; I controlled my injuries, they weren’t giving me any issues. I went out there with heart, left everything in the water and that’s all anyone can do. Unfortunately, it’s not the result we want, but there’s nothing more I could have given these last two weeks.” On whether she would continue: “I would love to continue but, unfortunately there are other things to do in life; sometimes you can’t do both. It’s time for me to let the youngsters come in.”
Arno Havenga (NED) — Head Coach
"Definitely not our best game of the tournament. It doesn’t represent where our team is. We were tired and not showing our best form. Australia did a really good job and was eager.” On the future of the Dutch programme: “Today Dagmar (Genee) and Nomi (Stomphorst) retired. We will see what happens.”
Dagmar Genee (NED) — Captain Who is Retiring From National Team
“What is after sport? I will start working, consulting in business improvement. I had a wonderful career, lot of ups and downs. In Barcelona, we won the European championship (2018). This game (v Australia) was very bad. However, I am here at the Olympics. Everybody (team) is so close. You lose the quarterfinal and you have to play other games. If we could get a medal, it would have been wonderful.”
CLASSIFICATION 7-8: CHINA 7 CANADA 16
Canada finished its long summer season with seventh place, downing China 16-7 in the first of the women’s water polo finals.
Although Canada has won two silvers and two bronzes at FINA World Championships, it has never won an Olympic medal. Canada was fifth in 2000 and seventh in 2004, missing the next three Games.
The damage was done in the second quarter as Canada turned a 4-3 first-quarter lead into a 9-5 halftime advantage with Kyra Christmas gaining a hat-trick and captain Monika Eggens netting a pair. Jing Zhang returned from a shooting-hand injury to collect two goals for China.
Christmas gifted another goal to Canada at the top of the third period for her 15th goal at Tokyo 2020, with a reply from Zhang for her third. Axelle Crevier lobbed Yineng Shen and Emma Wright snaffled a second goal with a solid centre-forward effort for 12-6. Joelle Bekhazi, making her swansong in her 581st international, landed one from the top to close the third quarter at 13-6. Crevier is the daughter of Marie-Claude Deslieres, a 2000 Olympian and referee at these Olympic Games. Kelly McKee and Zhang traded goals. It was Zhang’s 16th goal of the tournament. Bekhazi finished off an extra-man play from the left-hand-catch position and Emma Wright turned strongly at centre forward to plant the 16th goal at 4:31, which proved to be the final score as both teams put up the shutters.
China was 11th at the 2019 Gwangju FINA World Championships and has previously played three times in the Olympics — fifth in 2008, fifth in 2012 and seventh in 2016.
Match 29, 13:00, CHINA 7 CANADA 16
Classification 7-8
Quarters: 3-4, 2-5, 1-4, 1-3
Referees: Nicola Johnson (AUS), Asumi Tsuzaki (JPN).
Shots: CHN: 7/28. CAN: 16/36.
Extra Man: CHN: 3/12. CAN: 4/12.
Pens: CHN: 1/1. CAN: 1/1.
FLASH QUOTES
David Paradelo (CAN) — Head Coach
“We were in it in the last two games. We have an incredible group, which has been 90 days on the road. They’re the best. We competed against the best in the world from the Super Final to here, although we did not show our best here. We have a young core of athletes with Paris (2024) close. We will play every tournament one by one.”
Kyra Christmas (CAN) — Four Goals
”We wanted to show that we are better than seventh. It was our best game as it went exactly as planned. We stayed with the game plan and stuck together as a team.”
Petar Porobic (CHN) — Head Coach
“The last match we played without two players who were injured. This was the reason we cannot play better, but it is better not to complain. We lost our confidence on shooting. It was our worst match at this tournament. Nobody likes playing the last match. We had a chance six or seven times from two or three metres and didn’t use. In future we must prepare not just for two or three matches like local tournaments but prepare for internationals with seven matches over two weeks.”