Sri Lankan women’s at Tokyo sevens

Hong Kong player Natasha Olson in action against Guam at  the Hong Kong Olympic qualifiers

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lanka women’s outfit led by lanky Thanuja Weerakody will be on another mission when the Tokyo sevens kick off today. As Sri Lanka got no chance for Rio Olympics currently occupying the last slot, the hosts Japan are all out to follow their men in the Asian race for Rio Olympics next year.

The closest rival for Japan is the strong and physical Kazakhstan outfit. Sri Lankan women’s will be all out to give a good account of themselves when they play their three matches against China, Guam and Kazakhstan today. On day two they will lock horns with Japan and Hong Kong. 

Hong Kong too has established itself as a threat to the reigning superpowers of Asian women’s rugby Japan, China and Kazakhstan over the preceding months and have now parlayed that into a chance for Olympic qualification this weekend with an outside chance provided the two top teams Japan and Kazakhstan do not enter the finals. In case either of the team enter the finals chance of Hong Kong women’s qualifying for Rio will fade away.

If Hong Kong win in Tokyo and Japan and Kazakhstan fail to reach the final, tie-breakers will come into effect. First up will be the head-to-head results between the two tied teams across the two Olympic qualifier events. If three teams are tied at the end of play on Sunday, point differentials across the series will be the deciding factor.

The Tokyo qualifier will again see six teams competing in a single pool, round-robin competition. Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, China, Sri Lanka and Guam will lock horns.