Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: Hong Kong women’s rugby stalwart Chow Mei-nam on sevens switch and dispelling body shape assumptions
- Dubbed a ‘fearless leader’ by sevens coach Monaghan, Chow recalls proving herself against 100kg opponents in New Zealand
- ‘We should never underestimate or overlook our speed and agility’, says forward who dares to dream of qualification
“To be a Hongkonger, it’s a matter of persistence,” the 31-year-old forward said, hoping to earn her first sevens cap at the World Rugby Sevens Repechage (May 19-20), the final qualification event for the Tokyo Games (July 23-August 8)..
“There are a lot of things [in Hong Kong] that we don’t exactly know when will happen, or how, but we have to stick to our beliefs. Only then will we be able to grab the opportunities when the time comes,” she said.
After a stop-start Covid-19 pandemic league season, sevens coach Iain Monaghan challenged her to compete for a spot in April before the team went into final preparations at the Hong Kong Sports Institute in May.
“I actually didn’t know how I would get there, but to get through the selection process felt like a miracle. I had to prepare a lot to make the final squad,” Chow said.