As Buenos Aires prepares to host the Youth Olympic Games this month, Asia will have two representatives in the rugby sevens competition.
The schedule sees the six men’s and six women’s teams play five round-robin games before placing games during the sixth and final competition session on 15 October when the medals will be decided.
Kazakhstan will represent Asia in the women’s competition, making their debut in the Youth Olympic Games, while Japan will represent Asia in the men’s competition having also played in the sports debut in Nanjing four years ago.
China won bronze in the women’s competition and both Asian sides will be looking to medal in Buenos Aires.
Japan face South Africa, hosts Argentina, Samoa, USA and France, while Kazakhstan will play Canada, France, Tunisia, Colombia and New Zealand.
Japan will be captained by Junya Matsumoto who is relishing this opportunity.
“I will dedicate myself for the team and also for the people who have supported this team during the camp.
“It is my wish that we will have no regrets how our team will have played through this tournament and also I will do my best there.”
Japan’s squad for the Youth Olympic Games: Ryo Eto, Jo Oba, Ryosuke Kan, Kentaro Fukii, Taira Main, Kippei Ishida, Haruhiko Uemura, Taisei Konishi, Kaito Nakanishi, Kanji Futamura, Junya Matsumoto (captain), Hibiki Yamada
Kazakhstan squad for the Youth Olympic Games
Yekaterina Kamenkova (C) , Valdo Odnoletok, Viktorya Mikhailenko, Russalina Fedorova, Olga Nossovskaya, Zhanelya Nursilanova, Nargiza Bekezhanova, Vassilissa Yakimechuk, Xeniya Kim, Vera Boichenko, Marina Volodina
Coach Dinara Omarbayeva
