National Rugby Sevens loses both Asian Games matches

OCA’s Adeesha Weeratunge lifts Anjula Hettiarachchi in the encounter against Taipei

By Shamseer Jaleel

The National Rugby Sevens team playing under the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) flag, lost both their encounters on the opening day of the Asian Games 2023 in China yesterday.

OCA lost to Taipei in the opening pool game (7/22) and later in the evening in their last group game, gave a good account of themselves before being beaten by South Korea 7/22.

South Korea ended the group matches unbeaten, beating Taipei 22/0. Both South Korea and Taipei will move forward to the Quarter-final stage in the Asian Games Rugby Sevens which will take place today. OCA is expected to play UAE and Philippines today. 

Head Coach Dushantha Lewke said: “We want to try and beat both teams. We have lost to Philippines last time we played them on the Asian circuit last year.I am happy with the effort the players have put in these players have not played rugby since the CR sevens domestic tournament and this is our first sevens tournament and the young players like Arkash Madushanka and Heshan Jansen who have got the opportunity for the first time are showing potential we as team if we get more sevens paying exposure we can build to where we were before COVID. 

“For this tournament we have 4 weeks of training and no practice games so the players are showing signs of improvement every game. Thari as Captain is doing a great job leading the young guys.”