Korea fight back to win Shanghai Sevens
(IRB.COM) Sunday 28 August 2011
Korea's Kim Gwong Min dives over to score the winning try in the final against Hong Kong in sudden death extra time at the Shanghai Sevens
Korea fought back from a surprising pool loss against Philippines on day one to capture their third consecutive Shanghai Sevens title after edging Hong Kong 22-17 with a try in sudden-death extra time.
Kim Gwong Min scored the winning try to complete a hat-trick in the final and also claim the title of Most Valuable Player.
In winning the Shanghai title, Korea take an early lead from runners-up Hong Kong in the 2011 HSBC Asian Sevens Series.
“Our performance improved after day one and we had a good review after losing to the Philippines. We were able to come back and defeat China in front of their home crowd and reach the final where we had as good a chance as Hong Kong," said Korea captain Yoon Tae-Il.
"It is fair to say that Hong Kong was the in-form team of the tournament but we looked across in the second half and when we were exhausted we could see they were exhausted too. It gave us the lift to come back.”
Korea also enters the history books as the first tournament winners of the new HSBC Asian Sevens Series, launched this year. It was also the first win for Korea in the Yuanshen Stadium in Shanghai, which hosted the event for the first time in 2011.
“I don't know what the secret is for us in Shanghai to win three in a row,” added Yoon.
“We feel really comfortable playing here after our success of the last two years. Maybe it is because they have very good kimchi in China just like we make in Korea! Whatever the reason, I am very happy to lead the team to success and to defend our title.”
Having looked the team to beat for much of the tournament, Hong Kong National Coach Dai Rees was philosophical after the final: “It is disappointing of course to lose in extra time but I am pleased with the way we were able to gel as a team and to reach the final in the first tournament of the season - we will use this loss as motivation as we prepare for Borneo.
"The good thing is that the new lads fitted into the squad very well and there is now great depth in our squad and some fierce competition for places in Borneo.”
Japan beat Kazakhstan 26-7 to take third place overall, while China took the Plate, beating Malaysia 31-7.
In the women's tournament, China beat reigning Asian Games Sevens champions Kazakhstan 19-10 to take the title.
The next event in the HSBC Asian Sevens Series is the Borneo Sevens in Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia on 24-25 September where Hong Kong are the reigning champions.
Further Series events will be held in Bangkok, Thailand and Goa, India in November 2011.
(IRB.COM) Sunday 28 August 2011
Korea's Kim Gwong Min dives over to score the winning try in the final against Hong Kong in sudden death extra time at the Shanghai Sevens
Korea fought back from a surprising pool loss against Philippines on day one to capture their third consecutive Shanghai Sevens title after edging Hong Kong 22-17 with a try in sudden-death extra time.
Kim Gwong Min scored the winning try to complete a hat-trick in the final and also claim the title of Most Valuable Player.
In winning the Shanghai title, Korea take an early lead from runners-up Hong Kong in the 2011 HSBC Asian Sevens Series.
“Our performance improved after day one and we had a good review after losing to the Philippines. We were able to come back and defeat China in front of their home crowd and reach the final where we had as good a chance as Hong Kong," said Korea captain Yoon Tae-Il.
"It is fair to say that Hong Kong was the in-form team of the tournament but we looked across in the second half and when we were exhausted we could see they were exhausted too. It gave us the lift to come back.”
Korea also enters the history books as the first tournament winners of the new HSBC Asian Sevens Series, launched this year. It was also the first win for Korea in the Yuanshen Stadium in Shanghai, which hosted the event for the first time in 2011.
“I don't know what the secret is for us in Shanghai to win three in a row,” added Yoon.
“We feel really comfortable playing here after our success of the last two years. Maybe it is because they have very good kimchi in China just like we make in Korea! Whatever the reason, I am very happy to lead the team to success and to defend our title.”
Having looked the team to beat for much of the tournament, Hong Kong National Coach Dai Rees was philosophical after the final: “It is disappointing of course to lose in extra time but I am pleased with the way we were able to gel as a team and to reach the final in the first tournament of the season - we will use this loss as motivation as we prepare for Borneo.
"The good thing is that the new lads fitted into the squad very well and there is now great depth in our squad and some fierce competition for places in Borneo.”
Japan beat Kazakhstan 26-7 to take third place overall, while China took the Plate, beating Malaysia 31-7.
In the women's tournament, China beat reigning Asian Games Sevens champions Kazakhstan 19-10 to take the title.
The next event in the HSBC Asian Sevens Series is the Borneo Sevens in Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia on 24-25 September where Hong Kong are the reigning champions.
Further Series events will be held in Bangkok, Thailand and Goa, India in November 2011.
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