Huge turnaround after dismal performance against Kenya
What a difference a day makes. On Friday China trudged off the pitch after being trounced 47-0 by Kenya, but yesterday the mainlanders sprung the shock of the tournament.
China defeated Scotland, the nation that invented sevens, 19-12 in a massive turnaround that brought a huge smile to captain Johnny Zhang Zhiqiang. Although China were unable to maintain the momentum going into their next match against Portugal, which they lost 40-10, the mainlanders will never forget the day they put Scotland to the sword.
With only several weeks to prepare for the tournament, the China dragon breathed new life into their Sevens programme with a determined victory that will rank as their best-ever result.
The performance is even more significant when you consider Scotland reached the Cup quarter-finals for the past nine years up until last year.
China bowed out of last year's Bowl quarter-finals and will contest the Bowl again, taking on South Korea in the quarter-finals.
'I am just so proud of the boys,' said 34-year-old Zhang, who has been gracing the Hong Kong tournament for the last 10 years.
