Japan stamp their class in women’s rugby

Japan edged out a much fancied Chinese outfit to secure Gold at the Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia

By Shamseer Jaleel

Japan showed their dominance in Asian rugby when they captured Gold at the Women’s Rugby Sevens final defeating a much stronger Chinese outfit 7/5. This victory was a much-needed one after their men’s outfit lost out to Hong Kong in the Cup Finals pushing them down to a Silver at the Asian Games in Indonesia last weekend.

Yume Hirano scored her sixth try of the Asian Games to give Japan a 7/0 lead and that was to be their only score of the match. Keyi Chen scored her 11th of the Games but her missed conversation proved costly.

Kazakhstan won their second successive Bronze Medal at the Asian Games with a 17/7 win over Thailand thanks to two first-half tries from Lyudmila Korotkikh and two second-half tries from Kundyzay Baktybayeva, having won gold in the inaugural women’s event in 2010.

Overall standings

1. Japan

2. China

3. Kazakhstan

4. Thailand

5. Hong Kong

6. Singapore

7. Korea

8. Indonesia

Results

Gold 

Japan beat China 7/5

Bronze

Kazakhstan beat Thailand 29/7

Semi-finals

China beat Thailand 29/5

Japan beat Kazakhstan 26/12

5th place play-off

Hong Kong beat Singapore 45/0

7th place play-off

South Korea beat Indonesia 28/0