SEA Games 2025: Men’s water polo team have eye on future after young squad’s gold

Singapore beat Indonesia 19-16 in their final round-robin match to secure gold in the men's team event. Photo: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

Water polo player Goh Wen Zhe has tasted the hurt of missing out on gold at the 2019 SEA Games. He then felt the helplessness of the sport’s exclusion from the roster at the next edition, then had to sit out the 2023 Games due to national service commitments. 

But it all came full circle on Dec 19 at the Thammasat Water Sports Centre when he scored the team’s final three goals of the 33rd SEA Games, handing Singapore a 19-16 victory over Indonesia. 

The must-win game means Singapore finished top of the five-team competition. 

“This is something that I've been working towards for a very long time,” he said. “2019 was a very painful experience. Through these years, I really worked, and worked, and worked.” 

Goh Wen Zhe was part of the squad that suffered the heartache of the end of Singapore's gold streak at the SEA Games in 2019. He scored the team's final three goals on Dec 19 to secure gold. Photo: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

That the reward of gold came alongside a young and inexperienced team – there are 11 debutants on the squad – made victory all the sweeter for Goh. 

He said: “Being such a young team, we were nervous. Even today, we were also nervous in the first two quarters. But as the game carried on, we adapted to it. We stayed calm, we followed the game plan. 

“I'm very proud of how far we have come together. We weren't able to play at this level at the start of the year, and seeing the fruits of our labour now is really making me very proud to be part of this team.” 

Given the legacy of Singapore men’s water polo at the SEA Games, there was no denying the weight of the pressure the team were shouldering. Before bronze in 2019, the Republic were champions since 1965.

But even with players as young as 16 years old, captain Sanjiv Rajandra said everyone was clear about the mission at hand. 

He said: “When I was 16 or 17, I definitely wasn't ready to carry the national flag. All those who are going to NS next year, they had to have the discipline to come to training when they could have easily just relaxed at home.

“When (Indonesia) came back, we were ready. Coach had us prepped and ready for whatever could have happened, and we stuck to our game plan.” 

Singapore men's water polo captain Sanjiv Rajandra in action on Dec 19. Photo: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

Still, regardless of the number of pep talks or strategy sessions, the pressure of a SEA Games campaign is truly felt only when players are tested by the heat of the competition. 

Said men’s team head coach Kan Aoyagi: “This SEA Games was the hardest. We changed a generation, selected many young players. They didn't have enough experience. They have very strong abilities, but the SEA Games pressure, champion mission, this gives us big pressure.

“The players were nervous, the coaches were also nervous.”

But with the gold now firmly in hand, Aoyagi is confident his charges have emerged a different, more resilient squad – one that has its sights set on continental honours. 

He said: “We have a long journey, because we want to get a medal at the Asian Games. Really,  we believe one day we want to be at the top of Asia. This is just a process to improve ourselves.

“I'm happy this competition will make us really grow up and improve. But after nine months, we have the Asian Games. We will work more, and harder, and we will continue this progress.” 

In the women's team event, Singapore had to settle for silver after a 8-11 loss to host nation Thailand in their final round-robin, must-win game. 

It marks a fifth straight SEA Games silver, a result that left the team crestfallen. 

Singapore women's water polo player Koh Xiao Li in action on Dec 19. Photo: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

Captain Abielle Yeo said: "It's definitely heartbreaking for our team. The amount of sacrifice and support that we received... some of us put our lives on hold... all these were riding on this match.

"There are no do-overs, but at the same time, I'm really proud of my team for showing the teamwork that we had. Overall, the team has come so, so far from the past few years. We can only hope to go forward from here." 

The 33rd SEA Games are held in Thailand from 9 to 20 December 2025. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.