GANGNEUNG, Republic of Korea — Jamaica had to a settle for a silver medal yesterday after they were beaten 0-2 by Hungary in the hotly-contested floor hockey Division T1 final here at the Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Jamaica, captained by Sydney Manyan, fought gallantly after conceding early on the second line change (team substitutions) but could not find a foothold back into the encounter and eventually suffered the hammer blow of a second goal in the dying embers of the match.

In the hugely anticipated top-tier gold medal affair at the Gangneung Sports Centre, the talented Jamaica team dazzled at times but failed to take their chances when the scoring opportunities arrived.

Hungary, though making less attempts on goal than Jamaica, were always threatening on the counter-attack, while doing enough defensively to thwart their opponents’ attacks.

Though it was a gut-wrenching loss for Jamaica, seeking a repeat of the gold medal won in the 2009 Championships, they can find solace in the realisation that the highly-organised and fine-tuned Hungarians were the best team all tournament.

Hungary suffered only one loss during the competition — a 2-4 reverse to the Jamaicans — and in turn beat the Caribbean team on four occasions, including in yesterday’s all-important clash.

The Pyeongchang 2013 Winter Games, which started on January 29, ended with a Closing Ceremony at the Yongpyong Dome yesterday evening and the 24-member Jamaica delegation are scheduled to depart Korea today.

They are set to arrive at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston tomorrow.

Head of delegation — Glendon West

Coaches — Yolanda Reid, Valery Murphy, Michelle Romans and Jacqueline Bennett; physiotherapist, Patricia Lue-Chin; athletes Dwight Brooks, Omar Brown, Oshaine Daley, Rayan Farquharson, Andre Folkes, Jason Grant, Dexter Haughton, Jermaine Henry, Keneil Hewitt, Andrew Hinds, Lucan Jones, Sydney Manyan, Shawn Myers, Craig Nelson, Matthew Tarawali, David Thompson, Nigel Davis and Tamra Mitchell.

Jamaica’s florr hockey players pose with their silver medals after losing the final 0-2 to Hungary at the Special Olympics World Winter Games at the Guangneung Sports Centre yesterday. (Photo: Collin Reid/courtesy of Digicel)