Coach lauds gritty girls' squad after winning historic Asia Rugby under-18 bronze
KUALA LUMPUR: After winning a first-ever silver medal at the SEA Games last year, women’s rugby once again proved that it is on the rise in Malaysia by finishing a historic third at the Asia Rugby Under-18 Sevens in Qingdao, China yesterday.
KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian women's rugby team showcased remarkable tenacity and skill, securing a historic third-place finish at the Asia Rugby Under-18 Sevens in Qingdao, China. Head coach Rozliana Ridwan led the team, which triumphed over India and the United Arab Emirates before narrowly losing to Hong Kong in the group stage.
Despite falling to China in the semi-finals, Malaysia bounced back by defeating Uzbekistan 12-5 in the third-place playoff, earning them the bronze medal. This victory marked a significant milestone for Malaysian women's rugby, as the team had never previously finished on the podium in women's rugby at the Asian level, both in junior and senior competitions.
Rozliana expressed her pride in her players' determination, noting that they outperformed physically stronger opponents throughout the tournament. She emphasized that, despite being smaller in size, the team demonstrated immense heart and fought until the very end for their country. The men's team, coached by Syahir Asyraf Rosli, finished fourth in the under-18 event, falling to China in the third-place playoff following earlier losses to the UAE and eventual winners.
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