Japan breaks Lankan hearts

Japan’s players celebrate in front of a billboard after beating Hong Kong in the final of the Asia Rugby Sevens qualifier, in Hong Kong, China November 8, 2015, to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. REUTERS​

Japan’s Chihito Matsui is tackled by Sri Lanka’s Anuradha Wilwara during their Asian Rugby Sevens qualifying tournament for the 2016 Rio Olympics, in Hong Kong, China 8 November - Reuters​

Japan’s Lote Daulako Tuqiri scores a try during their Asia Rugby Sevens qualifying tournament against Sri Lanka, for the 2016 Rio Olympics, in Hong Kong, China 8 November - Reuters

Japan’s Satoshi Oshima (top) and Sri Lanka’s Sudarshan Muthuthantri fight for the ball during the Asia Rugby Sevens qualifying tournament for the 2016 Rio Olympics, in Hong Kong, China November 8, 2015. REUTERS

By Shamseer Jaleel Reporting from Causeway Bay in Hong Kong

Hopes of Sri Lanka’s men’s Sevens rugby outfit booking a berth at the Rio Olympics faded further when the Japanese beat Sri Lanka 43-0 in a seven-try blitz at the Asian qualifiers semi-final at the Hong Kong Stadium at Causeway Bay in Hong Kong yesterday. 

Playing for third place, Sri Lanka went down narrowly to South Korea 26-21.

Japan stamped their class, showing why they are number 1 in Asia when they outclassed Hong Kong 24-10 in the final at the same time, booking their place as the Asian representative for the Rio Olympics.

Sri Lanka came to the semi-finals by beating Malaysia, Iran and the Philippines while losing to Hong Kong in a thriller. 

In their game against Japan, the Japanese were in attacking mode from kick-off and never gave the fast Sri Lankans any possession. They scored four unanswered tries in the first half. The Sri Lankans’ only chance came when Richard Dharmapala chipped and chased before failing to collect the ball. 

In the second half it was once again one-way traffic as Japan scored three more tries to win emphatically. Japanese player Chihito Matsui scored a hat-trick.

In the third-place encounter Sri Lanka started off well with Gayan Weeraratne touching down after the South Koreans scored first. After the breather the Koreans got into top gear scoring at will with the Sri Lankan defence all over the place. They scored three tries within the space of three minutes to take a 26-7 lead. In the last two minutes Sri Lanka kept on attacking with skipper Muthuthanthri and Sooriyabandara solo tries, narrowing the gap to five points but it was a case of being so close yet so far for the third-placed Sri Lankans.

Sri Lanka outclassed the Philippines 50-5 earlier in the day in one of the group matches with the help of an eight-try blitz. They simply looked amazing, scoring through Wilwara (2), Ranjan (2), Dharmapala (2), Sooriyabandara and Gayan. Fazil converted four and Sooriyabandara one.  

Sri Lanka women’s outfit lost out in the play-off for 5th place, falling 21-5 to Guam and ending up sixth. Japan women’s team beat Kazakhstan 22-0in the finals and will move to Tokyo for the second leg. The winner will be selected on the aggregate of both the Hong Kong and Tokyo legs for the Rio Olympics as the women’s qualifying team from Asia.

The men’s 12th-placed team for Rio will be decided through a 16-team repechage event to be held in June 2016 (venue to be decided). Participants will be the top non-qualifying teams from the regional tournaments, who finished second, third and fourth in Asia and Africa, second to fifth in Europe, second and third in North America, South America and Oceania. 

Sri Lanka men’s team will get one more opportunity in June 2016 in the 16-team event to book their Rio Olympics Sevens berth along with Hong Kong and South Korea.

Speaking to Daily FT, Sri Lankan Head Coach Matt Turner said: “Disappointed with the performances against South Korea as there was hardly any gap between us and them. We could have easily ended third. There is a huge gap between the second and next two seeds in Asia. We need to plan for the next event in 2016 June where Sri Lanka will be among the 16 top teams around the globe for a single spot in Rio.”

Men’s

Final

Japan beat Hong Kong 24/10

3rd place play-off

South Korea beat Sri Lanka 26/21

Semi finals

Japan beat Sri Lanka 43/0, Hong Kong beat South Korea 19/10

Plate final (5th/6th place)

China beat Malaysia 38/5

Plate semi finals

China beat Philippines 26/15, Malaysia beat Singapore 31/10

7th place play off

Philippines beat Singapore 24/12

9th place play off

Taipei beat Iran 22/5

Pool matches

South Korea beat Singapore 36/0, Japan beat China 34/0, Hong Kong beat Malaysia 52/0, Sri Lanka beat Philippines 50/5

Women’s

Final

Japan beat Kazakhstan 22/0

3rd place

Hong Kong beat China 12/7

5th place

Guam beat Sri Lanka 21/5

Pool matches

Japan beat Guam 53/0, China beat Sri Lanka 47/7, Kazakhstan beat Hong Kong 20/12, Kazakhstan beat Sri Lanka 31/7, Hong Kong beat Guam 29/0, China beat Japan 12/5