Sri Lanka book date with Japan in Asian Games Rugby semi-final

By Shamseer Jaleel
Sri Lanka will be battling it out with the current holders of the 17th Asian Games Gold, Japan, in one of the semi-final encounters today at the Namdon Rugby Asiad stadium.
Sri Lanka after being beaten by South Korea (12/21) in their last group encounter went on to beat China (24/19) in the quarterfinal encounter.
Today Sri Lanka will play the Defending Asian Games Gold Medallist Japan at 1.10 pm (Sri Lanka time)
Earlier in the day Sri Lanka suffered a defeat after some brilliant play and holding the lead 12 to nothing against hosts South Korea at the short breather. After the turn around hosts South Korea went in with three unanswered tries to grab the game.
Gayan Weeraratne and Anurudha Wilwara scored the two tries for Sri Lanka.  After the turnaround South Korea scored off the kick off when Sri Lanka failed to secure the high ball which has been the weakness of the side from the inception this year and even at the Asian sevens in Hong Kong and Malaysia this was evident.
For South Korea Yang Younghun touched down for the first try under the post.  Soon after the first try, Jeong Yeonsik scored two tries in quick succession.
Sri Lanka finished 4th overall and faced China who finished 5th in the quarter final match which. Sri Lanka edged out China 24-19 to secure the semi-final berth today against Japan. In the other semi-final Hong Kong will battle it out with hosts South Korea.
Sri Lanka overcame a spirited Taipei outfit 24/7 on the opening day. Danushka Ranjan scored twice, Fazil Marija and Shehan Pathirana scored a try each. In their second game Sri Lanka thrashed Lebanon 54 to nothing with 8 unanswered tries. Anurudda Wilwara scored a hat-trick, Mithun Hapugoda scored two tries, Fazil Marija, Dinusha Chathuranga and Srinath Sooriyabandara scored one each.