Lanka registers wins over Iran and Malaysia
Sri Lanka won two games and lost one with a game to go, in the Men’s ARFU Asian Rugby Sevens Qualifier, for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, in progress in Kowloon, Hong Kong yesterday. Sri Lanka is placed second in Pool ‘B’ next to Hong Kong, to whom they lost 27-12 in the final pool game played on Saturday.
Sri Lanka’s Anuruddha Wilwara running past the Iran defence
The Tuskers, hunting for a berth at the Rio Olympics next year, got their momentum set with a resounding 31-10 win against Iran in the first game faced and followed it up with a morale boosting 24-10 win against Malaysia before being their progress was stalled by the mighty Hong Kong, one of the first favourites next to Japan to win the tournament.
With a pool game pending against Philippines today at 9.00am Sri Lanka time, the Tuskers are in great shape after their successful outings in the recent Sevens tournaments. Philippines are currently placed fourth in Pool ‘B’ behind Malaysia while Iran is placed at bottom and will be meeting Chinese Taipei today in the 9th/10th playoff. Hong Kong and Malaysia will face off before Sri Lanka’s game today to determine the final placing of Pool ‘B’. Hong Kong beat Philippines 29-nil and Iran 46-nil.
From Pool ‘A’ Asian heavyweights Japan have already made their intentions clear by taking the top spot with three straight wins. The Brave Blossoms thrashed Singapore 66-nil, Chinese Taipei 38-nil before massacring South Korea 45-0. They will play China today besides the game between South Korea and Singapore from Pool ‘A’. China is placed second in Pool ‘A’ followed by South Korea, Singapore and Chinese Taipei, who will play against Iran in their final game of the competition. The top two teams from each group will contest in the Cup semi-finals while the third and fourth placed teams will be drawn into the Plate semi-finals.
Sri Lanka led by Sudarshana Muthuthanthri, includes Richard Dharmapala, Kanchana Ramanayake, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Shenal Dias, Sandun Herath, Hirantha Perera, Fazil Marija, Nigel Ratwatte, Gayan Weeraratne, Anuruddha Wilwara and Dhanushka Ranjan.
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Women’s side, one of the six teams vying for a slot for the Rio Olympics, faced two defeats before thumping over Guam 22-7. The Lankan lasses went down to Hong Kong by 5-36 and Japan nil-48 in the two pool games played earlier on. Today they will face China at 7.00am Sri Lanka time followed by their last hurdle against the rampaging Kazakhstan Women’s team, who had an impressive day yesterday with two resounding wins against Guam (46-7) and China (22-12) and a close defeat against Japan (5-7).
Japan looks well set to come above the rest with three straight wins against Kazakhstan (7-5), Sri Lanka (48-0) and Hong Kong (36-0) as they lead the pool ahead of Kazakhstan. Hong Kong is placed at third followed by China, Sri Lanka and Guam.
The Sri Lanka Women’s squad headed by Thanuja Dilrukshi includes Sandika Hemakumari, Randika Kumudumali, Anusha Attanayake, Nadeeka Munasinghe, Dulani Pallikkondage, Dasuni de Silva, Ayasha Lakmali, Sandeepa Sandamali, Thilini Rangani, Sanjeewani Wasana, Sanjeewani de Silva.
The Brazil men’s and women’s teams have automatically qualified for the Rio Olympics Rugby Sevens being the hosts of the event. Qualification began with the 2014-15 Men’s Sevens World Series and 2014-15 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, where the four teams at the top of the standings qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games. They are Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand and Great Britain. Argentina have qualified from the CONSUR region while the United States of America has reached the big event from the North American region. France will be the team to represent Europe. Four more slots are still open from the Asian, African, Oceana and Final Olympic Qualification before the draw is released by the organisers.