‘No fear’ for Hong Kong women’s rugby sevens team ahead of Olympic qualifiers, men boosted by talisman Yiu’s availablity
- Hong Kong’s in-form women are aiming for Olympic qualification to maintain upward curve plotted since head coach Andy Vilk’s arrival
- Men will have evergreen Salom Yiu available when they look to atone for 2020 heartbreak in Japan qualifiers next month
Landmark victories over Thailand and China have infused Hong Kong’s resurgent women’s rugby sevens team with the belief they can qualify for next year’s Olympic Games.
Andy Vilk’s side beat Thailand 7-5 to claim Asian Games bronze last month, then edged another nail biter when they overcame their mainland adversaries 17-14 in the semi-final of last weekend’s Asia Rugby Sevens Series leg in Bangkok.
And while Japan were too strong in the final, Paul John, head of the elite sevens athlete programme at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, said confidence was growing that the women’s team could take the single Olympic spot on offer at next month’s qualification competition in Osaka.
Reaching the final in Bangkok also booked Hong Kong a spot for next year’s second-tier Challenger Series.
“The result against China was absolutely huge and showed how the players have progressed and begun to believe in themselves,” John said.
“They had a taste of the Challenger Series this year, and that ignited their appetite to play on the highest stage possible. The Asian Games bronze was a huge achievement, and if your heads are up and you have confidence, that breeds momentum.
“We have spoken to the girls in the past about not really believing they could beat the top Asian nations. These recent results have to give them the belief they can achieve more. They should not fear anybody.”
Of the team in Bangkok, only Julia Mibuy Mba Oyana was a non-passport holder, making her currently ineligible for Olympic participation.
But John said he was optimistic that the 19-year-old, who scored a hat-trick of tries in the pool-stage victory over Malaysia, and added another against China, could get her passport in time for the qualification tournament on November 19 and 20.
Vilk has been in his role for only two months, and Paris 2024 qualification would complete a formidable treble for the head coach, who has already broken Hong Kong women’s Asian Games medal duck, and overseen progress to a first sevens series final since 2018.
“He has a very good way with the girls, and is very positive in how he coaches,” John said.
“Andy and Peter [Jericevich, coach] are very measured in their preparations, and their attitude has rubbed off on the players. They were calm and confident in Bangkok, and showed what they could do. It was good to see them not panicking [when defending lead against China].”
John relayed more good news in the availability of the “phenomenal” 35-year-old Salom Yiu Kam-shing for the men’s team’s Olympic quest.
The desire to reach next year’s Olympics is palpable, after Hong Kong narrowly lost to South Korea for a place at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
“Everybody in the camp knows how much we want to go to the Olympics, but talking about it every day is not going to do anybody any good,” John said.
“They have proved they can beat all these teams, so we just want to prepare them to play at their best. Sevens is a bit of a rollercoaster and a worry - but that is why we love it.”
