Hong Kong biggest threat in Korea 7s – Coach Ibrahim
Coach Nilfer Ibrahim believes that Sri Lanka’s opening fixture against Hong Kong will have a huge impact in their progress at the Asia Rugby Sevens Series second leg, which begins at the Namdong Asiad Rugby Stadium in Incheon, South Korea today.
The Sri Lankan Tuskers have been drawn alongside Hong Kong, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Pool ‘A’ while Japan, South Korea, Philippines and Malaysia are competing in Pool ‘B’.
“I think Hong Kong will be our biggest challenge because they are fresh after having secured the Asia Rugby Sevens Series first leg in Thailand,” Ibrahim told the Daily News yesterday.
Hong Kong produced a stunning performance to beat the traditional Asian heavyweights Japan 36-19 in the Cup Championship final after having trounced South Korea 26-0 in the semi-finals.
“We had a gym training session in the morning and another outdoor training session in the evening and the boys are very confident of putting up a good performance,” Ibrahim stressed.
No doubt, the biggest threat for Sri Lanka will be Hong Kong’s Max Denmark,
who had an outstanding leg in Thailand two weeks ago where he emerged as the highest try scorer having crossed the whitewash on eight occasions.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Women’s Team Coach Saliya Kumara said that the players are in a positive frame of mind ahead of the tournament despite the chill weather conditions in Incheon.
“We are expecting showers tomorrow but that will not affect the players because they have been training under wet weather conditions back in Colombo over the last few days,” Kumara emphasised.
The Sri Lanka Women have been drawn in Pool ‘A’ together with China, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan while Japan, Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia are in Pool ‘B’.
The first day schedule:
(Men’s Tournament): UAE vs China, Hong Kong vs Sri Lanka, Japan vs Malaysia, South Korea vs Philippines, UAE vs Sri Lanka, Hong Kong vs China, South Korea vs Malaysia, Japan vs Philippines, China vs Sri Lanka, Hong Kong vs UAE, Japan vs South Korea, Philippines vs Malaysia.
(Women’s Tournament): Hong Kong vs Kazakhstan, China vs Sri Lanka, Japan vs Malaysia, Thailand vs Philippines, Hong Kong vs Sri Lanka, China vs Kazakhstan, Thailand vs Malaysia, Japan vs Philippines, Kazakhstan vs Sri Lanka, China vs Hong Kong, Japan vs Thailand, Malaysia vs Philippines.