FINA World Championships 2013: Filipovic flips head over heels at baby’s birth

POLO AIR INDONESIA-Having a child is a wonderful sensation. Beating Hungary at men’s water polo is equally as exciting. Doing both at the same time must be unheard of in this amazing sport. Filip Filipovic (26) has achieved so much in his short life but as one of the world’s most decorated water polo athletes, he topped it all as wife Sanya gave birth to a son — Vuk — while he was helping Serbia defeat Hungary 13-10 in a Group C match at the Bernat Picornell Pool. 

It was the second day of competition and the match was for group supremacy, so Filipovic’s celebrations will be doubled. After the match he raced to his mobile phone to call his wife. Crying, he said after the call:  “I have left this game a true winner as I am now a father. Sorry, this is a very emotional moment for me.” He said his parents in the grandstands informed him of the birth during the third quarter. He will stay in Spain for the duration of the championships.

The match had everything from controversy to a change in fortunes and late charge by Hungary. Marton Szivos had his long-range goal originally disallowed, but after a howl from the huge crowd, the decision was reversed, only for the goal to be awarded to a teammate.

Hungary will now play Australia on Friday for second place in the group after Australia defeated China 9-7.

In Group B action, United States of America beat South Africa 16-3 and Croatia had to work for a 13-8 victory over Canada.

In Group A, Greece gained a second win with a 24-4 win over New Zealand and Montenegro rained on Spain’s parade with a 7-5 victory.

In Group D, Kazakhstan reversed its fortunes against Romania with a 7-4 victory and Italy slowed down after an 8-2 lead to defeat Germany 10-8.

Points after day one:

Group A: GRE 4, MNE 2, ESP 2, NZL 0.
Group B: CRO 4, USA 2, CAN 2, RSA 0.
Group C: SRB 4, HUN 2, AUS 2, CHN 0.
Group D: ITA 4, GER 2, KAZ 2, ROU 0.

MEDALS TABLE (25/7)

NF	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	TOTAL
CHN	5	3	2	10
RUS	4	2	-	6
BRA	1	2	1	4
GER	1	1	2	4
TUN	1	-	1	2
GRE	1	-	-	1
USA	1	-	-	1
CAN	-	2	1	3
ITA	-	2	-	2
ESP	-	1	3	4
UKR	-	1	1	2
MEX	-	-	2	2
MAS	-	-	1	1
TOTAL	14	14	14	42