Sri Lanka unbeaten on day one

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lankan national rugby outfit remained unbeaten on the initial day of the Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy 2024, which commenced at the Dasharath Rangasaala Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday.

Sri Lanka handed off Kazakhstan in the opening encounter 43 to nothing, after the Kaz outfit put up a brave effort in the early stages of the initial half but lacked the finishing touches and failed to find the gaping holes as the Sri Lankan defence looked rock solid. Sri Lanka scored their tries through Akash Madushanka (3), Srinarth Sooriyabandara, Tarinda Ratwatte (2), Shaahid Zumri, and Hirantha Perera.

Sri Lanka beat Qatar 39/5 with tries scored by Heshan Jansen, Sachith Silva, Akash Madushanka, Srinarth Sooriyabandara, Janidu Dilshan, and Tarinda Ratwatte.

Sri Lanka handed off Saudi Arabia in their last group encounter 52/0. Tries were scored by Heshan Jensen (2), Janidu Dilshan, Tarinda Ratwatte, Shaahid Zumri, Dinal Ekanayake, and Hirantha Perera. They scored 134 points in their three encounters, conceding only one try against them.

Sri Lanka men’s will play India today in the Cup quarter-final encounter.

Quarter-finals: Philippines v Bahrain, Kazakhstan v Taipei, Sri Lanka v India, Jordan v Uzbekistan

Asia Rugby Challenge Trophy

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan women’s outfit beat Iran 20/0 and lost to India 10/29.