2020 Olympics: epic tournament set to get underway as Hong Kong’s men’s sevens squad flirt with destiny
- The men’s squad are ready for a massive opportunity, a chance to call themselves Olympians
- Hong Kong will kick off their tournament tomorrow against Malaysia and Taiwan
The last time a Hong Kong team qualified for an Olympic Games just so happened to be for Tokyo.
In 1964 the men’s field hockey team made the trek to Japan, however did not win a game. This Sunday, Hong Kong will have an unprecedented chance to write a new chapter as the men’s rugby sevens team stand on the precipice of calling themselves Olympians.
On the eve of arguably one of the Hong Kong Rugby Union’s most important tournaments to date, the squad, who took part in a captain’s run in Incheon on Friday morning, can now fully feel the gravitational weight of the expectations placed on their shoulders.
“We feel some pressure of course,” said the 29-year-old veteran. “But it is a positive pressure for us to come in as the favourites based on our performances already this season.”
Woodward said they feel comfortable heading into their first game on Saturday at Namdong Asiad Stadium in Incheon, South Korea. The highest temperature expected on Saturday and Sunday in the city is 17 degrees Celsius, which means Hong Kong will be playing in much crisper weather than they are used to. Regardless, Woodward said they know this arena and after all the banter, they can finally get on the pitch and let their play do the talking.