19th Asian Games Rugby sevens: Sri Lanka out of the games

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lankan Rugby Sevens outfit will not feature at the 19th Asian Games in China later next month. The 19th Asian Games Rugby Sevens event will take place from 24-26 September at Hangzhou Normal University Cangqian Athletics Field in China. Sri Lanka’s place was taken by fast developing Nepal team.

The sevens rugby will feature 7 women’s teams and 12 Men’s teams locking horns in the shorter version of the game. Rugby made its debut at the 1998 Games which took place in Bangkok, Thailand.

Sri Lanka sevens outfit under Tharinda Ratwatte is currently under training is expected to feature in the Asian Rugby Sevens first leg in Incheon, Korea on 26 and 27 August.

Men’s

• Pool A - Hong Kong, Philippines, Nepal
• Pool B - South Korea, Malaysia, Taipei
• Pool C - Japan, Singapore, Thailand
• Pool D - UAE, China, Afghanistan

Women’s

• Pool E - China, Thailand, Kazakhstan
• Pool F - Japan, Hong Kong, India, Singapore