Can China reach Paris Olympics in rugby sevens? Handling expectation key in last qualifier
- Women’s sevens team face ‘enormous pressure’ to deliver, but take a 21-match winning streak into Monaco qualifying tournament
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China’s rugby sevens coaches are confident their women’s team can live up to expectations back home and reach the Paris Olympics via the final qualifying tournament in Monaco, which starts on Friday.
And they have a former Hong Kong international helping their cause, in technical coach and video analyst Fan Shun-kei, who is under no illusion about the aspirations held by Chinese officials.
Changes have been made since China fell short in their first attempt to qualify, in the Asian qualifier last November, and China have gone on to win the second-tier Challenger Series and qualify for the elite global circuit. Paris, though, is a major target for the government agency responsible for sport.
“This is massive for the entire team, because the women’s side are under enormous pressure [to get results],” Fan said. “The General Administration of Sport of China naturally holds higher expectations for us because we qualified for the Tokyo Games and won at the Asian Games last year.
“On top of that, team sports in China have not been too successful, so they would want to have one team excel on the world stage.”
Fan was optimistic that the players could deliver, even if only the winners of the 12-team event at Stade Louis II will earn tickets to the French capital.
“Our chances are good, judging by the team’s ability and recent run of results,” Fan said. “There’s only the final to play for – only one team is going to Paris – so we cannot underestimate any team.
“But at the same time, we cannot be too nervous. The management team have to make sure they are relaxed and this is how they can do their best.”
Since losing to Kenya in their first Challenger Series match in January, China are on a 21-match winning streak, having swept through Dubai, Montevideo, Krakow and the grand finals in Madrid to qualify for next year’s elite series.
“We know where we are standing in terms of techniques, tactics and physical fitness – we are enjoying a bit of distance with the rest of the teams,” Fan said. “We should not drag our performance down because of nervousness.
“You do not know how to improve if you’re always on the top, but you would see the room for improvement being second or third. For us, it’s about figuring out how to widen the gap.”
China are in Pool C alongside Poland, Czech Republic and Mexico in the qualifying tournament, which runs until Sunday.
Hong Kong are paired with Uganda, Paraguay and Jamaica in Pool B, while Argentina, Kenya, Papua New Guinea and Samoa are in Pool A.
The top two teams from each pool, plus the two best third-placed teams, will progress to the knockout stage. The winner in Monaco will join the 11 qualified teams at Stade de France, where rugby sevens matches at the Games are to be held from July 24 to 30.
