Hong Kong’s Asian Games golden boys reminisce about sevens stunner against Japan two years on
- Salom’s Yiu’s first try is etched in the memory as Hong Kong finally get the better of nemesis Japan with gritty 14-0 victory
- Players celebrated winning gold with bowls of cereal and yogurt after game delayed and late-night return to dorm rooms
“I still remember the moment the whistle blew. I was so excited I shed a lot of tears. I had such an overwhelming appreciation that I had waited for that gold medal for nine years, and I’d finally achieved my goal,” said the 32-year-old Yiu, who got his first cap in 2009 at the East Asian Games.
Yiu scored the first try in the 14-0 nail-biter and said the victory now stands as a reminder of what happens when a team perseveres through adversity. Up until that game, Japan had not lost in 22 matches at the Asian Games.
“The gold medal is now my support,” he said, looking back on the September 1 final in the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex. “Every time I encounter difficulties, or feel like I want to give up, it gives me strength and reminds me that I can achieve anything I put my mind to.”
