China set to regain Asia 7s title
China won the second leg of Asia 7s in Hangzhou and should lift the overall title in Bangkok in November
Published by John Birch, September 22nd, 2024
2 minute read
China have now won two of this year’s three legs in the Asian 7s and – barring some very unlikely results - should regain the title they last won in 2022.
The again strolled to the final with little difficulty, but in the final itself faced a tough battle. Japan came back from 10-0 down to tie the scores at the break, and then did so again from the final play of normal time.
Extra time began with China down to six players, but that proved to be no problem when they scored the winning try in the first minute.
Japan had had an even easier run to the final that China, apart from the semi-final where, as with the first round, they struggled, this time against Thailand only winning 10-7.
Hong Kong, surprise finalists in the first leg, were firmly put in their place by both Japan and China before losing comfortably to Thailand in the bronze medal match.
Results
Pool C: Thailand 12-0 Kazakhstan; China 51-0 Singapore; Thailand 24-12 Singapore; China 35-5 Kazakhstan; Kazakhstan 45-0 Singapore; China 31-5 Thailand
Pool D: Japan 48-0 United Arab Emirates; Hong Kong 29-5 Malaysia; Japan 60-0 Malaysia; Hong Kong 29-5 United Arab Emirates; United Arab Emirates 5-17 Malaysia; Hong Kong 0-48 Japan
5th-8th Place Semi Finals: Kazakhstan 26-0 United Arab Emirates; Singapore 12-5 Malaysia
Semi-Finals China 48-0 Hong Kong; Thailand 7-10 Japan
7th Place: United Arab Emirates 17-24 Malaysia
5th Place: Kazakhstan 36-0 Singapore
3rd Place: Hong Kong 7-32 Thailand
Final: China 24-17 Japan