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Sooriyabandara experienced player in sevens circuit
Nigel will play a major part with his expeience at Asian level
Nippon Paint handing over sponsorship before team departed to UAE
Sri Lanka Men’s Sevens Rugby team arrived in UAE to participate at the Al Ain, UAE third leg of the Asia Rugby Sevens 2022 which will take place today (26 November) and tomorrow (27).
Sri Lanka were placed 4th in the Korean leg which was the only event they participated after missing out on the Thailand event.
They will participate under the National Olympic Committee (NOC) flag at this event.
Sri Lanka Skipper Srinarth Sooriyabandara speaking to Daily FT said: “We trained hard after the Korean leg identifying our mistakes. We are together as a team and our understanding is better. We want to end on top, aim is to be in the final.
“We want to work on our strength and do well and reduce the mistakes on securing the kick off ball will be the main one we will be concentrating on where other teams scored off us in the earlier event in Korea.”
Sri Lanka Men’s will be in Pool A alongside champions in both the legs, Hong Kong while other two teams would be Malaysia and China at the Asia Rugby Sevens at the third leg in UAE. First game will be against China (11.30 am) today (26 November) in the opening encounter of the tournament and later in the day against Malaysia (2/50 pm) but the last game against Hong Kong (6.35 pm) will be a tough one as usual unless a miracle it will be tough for the Sri Lankans on physicality and skills to beat the Hong Kong outfit. Sri Lanka will need to win at least two games in order to book their semi -final berth.
Sri Lanka, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Philippines, UAE and Japan will lock horns in the Men’s segment while in the Women’s segment, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, China and Philippines will battle it out. With Sri Lankan Women’s outfit not participating, the number of teams will be reduced to 7- and 8-Men’s outfit will feature in the last leg of the Asia Rugby Sevens 2022 in Al Ain today.
The Chinese rugby outfit flew directly from South Korea to UAE for the last leg which will be no cake walk for the Sri Lankans as they would be well prepared and customized for the UAE conditions better.
Japan who sent their second-string side is expected to send their best unit for the third leg this weekend which could be a threat for Sri Lanka in the semi-finals if they qualify as number 2 from Pool A. Sri Lanka ended on number 4 position in the South Korean leg. Day 2 of the event on November 27 will see the knock out encounters being worked off in both Men’s and Women’s segments.
Men’s
Pool A - Sri Lanka, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong
Pool B - South Korea, Philippines, UAE, Japan
Women’s
Pool A - Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia
Pool B- Thailand, China and Philippines
Sri Lankan timings for group matches;
