Hong Kong men’s team handed ‘best possible’ draw for Olympic qualifiers
Women face more challenging route to Rio as they are pooled with fellow Asian powerhouses Japan and China
Hong Kong had the luck of the draw Thursday, topping the easier group for next month's Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic qualifiers.
Hong Kong were drawn in pool B, alongside Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines and Iran.
They avoided South Korea and China, who both landed in pool A alongside favourites Japan, Singapore and Taiwan.
If we win the group, then we get the best deal in the semi-final
The team will be aiming to finish on top of their pool in the regional qualifier at Hong Kong Stadium on November 7-8 to avoid playing Japan, their greatest rivals on the Asian Sevens circuit, until the final. Only one team will go to Rio.
The Hong Kong women's team, meanwhile, face a more challenging route to a possible place in the Olympics, having been drawn with powerhouse teams China and Japan.
The women's road to Rio is played over two legs, with the second weekend of competition taking place in Japan at the end of November.
Rugby Sevens will debut at the 2016 Summer Games in Brazil, creating an opportunity for Hong Kong's men's and women's teams to make history by becoming the first local teams to qualify for an Olympic Games since men's field hockey in 1964.
