In a stellar display of skill and determination, Liam Doherty led Hong Kong to victory, securing their second consecutive Asian Games men's rugby sevens title.
Hong Kong emerged triumphant in the final, defeating South Korea with a score of 14-7 in an electrifying match held in Hangzhou.
Doherty, who was named the man of the match, played a pivotal role in the win, with his standout performance earning him the status of a game-changer. After an intense first half, Doherty seized the moment by breaking through the opposition's defence, leaving a trail of tackles in his wake before setting up scrum-half Cado Lee for a try. Russell Webb's precise conversion added crucial points to the scoreboard.
Just 48 seconds into the second half, Doherty once again demonstrated his speed and agility, capitalising on a well-timed pass from Max Denmark to score another try, with Webb delivering the extras.
Doherty expressed his elation, saying, "It's absolutely unbelievable. We just made history for Hong Kong to win back-to-back Asian Games."
Head coach Jevon Groves applauded Doherty's transformation, noting his transition from winger to forward and his mastery of the new role. Groves revealed that a motivational nudge a couple of weeks prior played a pivotal role in Doherty's stellar performance.
South Korea managed a consolation try through Kim Eui-tae, but Hong Kong maintained control throughout the game.
Russell Webb, who played a crucial role in directing Hong Kong's operations from the fly-half position, spoke about the significance of the win, stating, "It's bigger than just winning this for us. It's winning it for our programme, the guys back home, for Hong Kong."
Japan, who had faced a dramatic 12-7 defeat by Hong Kong in the semi-final, rallied to secure bronze and deny China a shock win. The match saw another nail-biting finish as Japan, trailing 19-14 at the end of the second half, equalized with a last-gasp try by Kippei Taninaka, converted by Yoshihiro Noguchi.
Meanwhile, in the women's final, China clinched gold in a heart-stopping match against Japan. China initially appeared to have a comfortable lead of 22-0 at halftime, but a spirited second-half comeback by Japan brought the game to the edge. In the final moments, China narrowly held on to win 22-21, securing their second gold medal in this event and avenging their loss to Japan in Jakarta five years ago.
Additionally, Hong Kong's women's team made history by winning their first Asian Games sevens medal, securing bronze with a tenacious defensive effort against Thailand, winning 7-5.
