Taiwan suffered a pair of thrashings at the Asian Rugby Sevens Series leg in Thailand yesterday, as the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union announced at its International Olympic Day that it is to host the Asia Rugby Sevens Qualifiers on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8.
Taiwan were soundly beaten in Bangkok at first by Hong Kong, 34-0, and then by Sri Lanka, 36-0.
Taiwan are to play hosts Thailand in first Bowl semi-final at 1:50pm Taiwan time today.
Photo courtesy of Kenji Demura-RJP
The union said at Olympic House — the headquarters of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong — that for the women, the qualifiers for next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro would be the first in a two-tournament qualification series, with the second to be held in Tokyo later in November, while the men’s winner in Hong Kong will claim Asia’s sole automatic slot among 12 in Brazil, where rugby Sevens is to make its debut.
Already qualified for the men’s competition are Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa, Great Britain, the US, Argentina and hosts Brazil.
The remaining places will be awarded to the winners of regional qualifiers in Europe, Oceania, Africa and the Hong Kong tournament for Asia as well as the winner of a 16-team international repechage tournament to be held later in the year.
For the eight participating Asian women’s teams, results from Hong Kong will be factored in with results from the second leg of the qualification series in Tokyo. The overall champion after the two events will join New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, Colombia, the US and hosts Brazil alongside the winners of regional qualifiers in Europe, Oceania and Africa, and the winner from an international repechage.
“The opportunity to participate in an Olympic Games is the ultimate dream for any athlete and we are totally focused on preparing for the November tournaments,” Hong Kong women’s sevens veteran Cheng Ka-chi said.
The union announced prices for tickets to the Hong Kong qualifiers, with a single-day ticket costing HK$200 (US$25.8) and a two-day package HK$360. Admission is free for children aged 12 or under.
The qualifiers are to be held at the Hong Kong Stadium, home of the annual Hong Kong Sevens.
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