Try, and try again: Rugby team faces up to tough challenge

In less than 10 days, the Paris Olympics will kick off with rugby sevens — one of the most action-packed sports of Paris 2024.

Starting on July 24, two days before the grand opening ceremony, players will take to the field at the iconic Stade de France, with a full house of 69,000 fans expected for each competition session.

Among the lineup of participating nations, China women's rugby sevens team is expected to be a dark horse contender, having battled through numerous challenges to secure its Olympic spot. With its eyes set on surpassing its 7th-place finish in Tokyo, the determined team is ready to make a powerful statement in its second Olympic appearance.

"Rugby sevens is set to bring a party atmosphere to the start of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with a vibrant and passionate crowd alongside the incredible skill, speed and strength on show on the pitch from some of the most impressive athletes in the world," said Nigel Cass, World Rugby's chief competitions &performance officer.

China's road to the Olympics has been fraught with challenges. Despite its triumph over Japan to secure the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last September, the Chinese women's rugby team faced a setback in November.

In the Asia Rugby Regional Qualifier held in Osaka, Japan, the home side claimed its revenge for Hangzhou, as Team China narrowly lost to its longtime rival in the final, missing out on direct qualification for Paris.

Among the 12 available spots for the Paris Olympics, one is reserved for the host nation, France. The top four teams from this season's World Rugby Sevens Series — New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and the US — have secured their places, along with the champions of the six continental Olympic qualifiers: Brazil, Canada, Britain, South Africa, Fiji and Japan.

The final spot was determined through the Olympic repechage tournament in Monaco in June. This meant that China had to battle against 11 other teams for the last remaining golden ticket to Paris.

In the group stage, China won all three matches. It then defeated Paraguay in the quarterfinals and Poland in the semifinals. In the final, China beat Kenya 24-7, securing its spot at the Paris Olympics with an undefeated record.

China's Chen Keyi scored a brace of tries as China dominated its opponents to qualify for back-to-back Olympics.

"We are feeling really good, we are so excited to go to Paris. I think we deserve it, we work so hard for each other, on and off the field," Chen said.

China's victory in the repechage tournament came as no surprise. The team is comprised mostly of athletes born after 1995, with several promising players born after 2000, known for their exceptional fitness and speed. Following its loss to Japan late last year, it diligently undertook rigorous training.

It has been unstoppable since its loss to Kenya in its first Challenger Series match in January, currently boasting a 27-match winning streak. This impressive run includes victories in the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Poland and Spain — also securing its spot in next year's elite series, as well as the upcoming Paris Games.

"We have been away from the world stage for long, so there was naturally less attention on us," China's rugby sevens coach Lu Zhuan told the South China Morning Post.

He expressed his hope that joining the core teams in the elite series next year and qualifying for the Olympics will help the girls understand their strengths.

"Continuous matches have not only allowed the players to gain valuable experience, but have also helped fine-tune the team's lineup. As Paris approaches, we will focus on improving specific skills and fitness, addressing issues laid bare during the qualifying matches," he said.

As the repechage champion, China's journey at the Paris Olympics will be a formidable one. The team is drawn in Pool A alongside three powerhouse sides: defending champion New Zealand, Tokyo bronze medalist Fiji and Rio 2016 bronze medalist Canada. They're all teams that compete in the World Sevens Series, and each has several tournament wins under its belt. China's first match is a daunting clash against the mighty New Zealand Black Ferns on July 28.

The top two teams from each group will advance directly to the quarterfinals. Additionally, the two best third-placed teams from the three groups will also advance.

"As difficult as the draw may look, we hope to make the most of our momentum to challenge the world's top teams," Lu said. "Our target is to qualify for the quarterfinals before looking to have a crack at beating our placing from three years ago."

"Our team looked for reasons immediately after we missed out on qualification in the Asian qualifiers in Osaka, and the key takeaway was to 'change and adapt'," Lu said, adding that the team has revamped its tactics, shifting to a system that suits it better and allows it to utilize the players' strengths more effectively.

"But, the Olympics is a major event. We will deal with it match by match, let the girls enjoy the Games in the most relaxed mood, while not letting pressure drag down their performance," he said.