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.”
The 12-man roster also included another local born and raised stalwart, Cado Lee Ka-to. The 28-year-old, who got his first cap in 2011 at the Asian Sevens, said the game is still etched in his memory.
“Keeping a clean sheet against Japan and Salom scoring the first try were the most memorable moments for me. Salom’s try was a confidence-booster and we played better and better from that point on until the final whistle.”
Lee, who had come back from playing in Japan’s Top League to help Hong Kong in their quest for an elusive gold, said the final was the culmination of years of training coming off the previous Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, where Hong Kong lost 24-12 to Japan.
“The gold medal proved that all the effort we had put in over the last four years was truly worthwhile. Now we need to keep improving, we have more goals to achieve and have to stay ahead of our close rivals.
Head coach Paul John, who took over coaching duties for the squad in 2017 ahead of the Borneo Sevens, said it was a bit of a jolt being reminded of how much time has passed since that night in Indonesia.
“I can’t believe it’s two years already and we are halfway through the next cycle,” John said. “The photo of the boys with their medal keeps popping up from time to time and just reminds us of what a great tournament it was for us. The hard work and commitment that the whole squad put in to win that gold medal was excellent.”
Ben Rimene, who gave up his New Zealand passport to chase gold in Jakarta, said the night began on a weird note with the game being delayed for two hours due to a clerical mix-up.
“Once the medals and everything had finished and we got the bus back to the accommodation, it was after midnight. No alcohol was available to buy anywhere in Indonesia. The food area only had breakfast available at that time. So we celebrated winning gold with bowls of cereal and yogurt. Then it was back to our little dorm rooms.”
Rimene said one thing he remembers about the moments before kick-off is the squad felt they were trending in the right direction against Japan.
“Before the match, I felt like we were in a good place mentally, physically and emotionally. We had a tough but good win against Korea and Thailand, and just got past Sri Lanka so we were in a good spot and were confident without getting too cocky.”
Hong Kong Rugby Union chief executive Robbie McRobbie, who first joined the organisation in 2003 after a career with the Hong Kong Police Force, said being a Hong Kong sevens fan can be an “emotional roller-coaster ride”.
The men narrowly missed out on qualifying for Tokyo 2020, now pushed to 2021, after a heartbreaking loss to South Korea late last year. The women also came within a win of qualifying for Tokyo in China, losing to the home team. Both will still get one last chance in a repechage tournament, which has yet to be scheduled.
The men’s team also came painfully close to qualifying for the World Rugby Sevens Series, losing to Ireland in the final match at last year’s Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. McRobbie said despite all the ups and downs, the Asian Games remains a positive memory.
“That evening in Jakarta two years ago will always be right up there with the biggest highs,” he said. “To see all the hard work invested in the sevens programme over so many years by so many individuals deliver gold, and a final victory over traditional rivals Japan, was an incredibly proud moment.
“Pieter Schats (HKRU’s chairman at the time) and I had to rush straight to the airport after the final whistle, but we had a few celebratory beers on the flight home, and the Cathay pilot even announced that we’d won gold. Great memories.”
