Tokyo 2020: Hong Kong thrash Taiwan to end perfect first day at Olympic sevens qualifying tournament
- Hong Kong add Taiwan to Malaysia scalp earlier in the day and did not concede a point while scoring 106
- The favourites will now square off against Afghanistan in their first knockout match
Hong Kong scored 106 points in two games and appear to be a well-oiled machine as they now head into Sunday’s final day with a coveted Tokyo Olympic sevens spot on the line.
The team beat Taiwan 52-0 in clinical fashion, head coach Paul John once again going deep into his bench as Hong Kong scored tries from seven players again at the 2020 Asia Rugby Men’s Sevens Olympic Qualifier at Namdong Asiad Stadium in Incheon, South Korea.
Max Denmark opened the scoring and led the charge with commanding runs through space and multiple tackles broken as Hong Kong led 21-0 at half-time and showed no mercy in the second half either. Denmark added a second try, with John saying Denmark is a formidable weapon in multiple areas.
“Max was chasing kick-offs and Salom (Yiu Kam-sing) chases kick-offs so it is good. It gives him a little bit of a break when Max is playing in the forwards. It’s just the matter of getting to the ball and it gives us better options.”
Denmark is coming off back-to-back injuries that kept him out of the 2019 Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. He returned to full action for the final leg of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series in Sri Lanka. He said he hasn’t let the thought of becoming an Olympian enter his mindset.
