Tuskers Deliver Solid Wins; Women’s Team Hit Hard by Tough Opponents 

Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2025 | Leg 02 – Sri Lanka

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Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2025
The Sri Lankan Tuskers remained unbeaten on Day 1 of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2025, securing two wins before their final game was postponed due to adverse weather conditions. Meanwhile, the women’s team faced a tough day, losing all three of their matches to competitive sides from Hong Kong, China, Thailand, and Singapore at the Racecourse Stadium.

Game 01 – Sri Lanka Vs Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan opened the scoring early after Sri Lanka conceded a penalty for a high tackle. The powerful Sobirjon Kholikulov capitalized, breaking through two defenders to score.(SL 00–07 UZB)

The Tuskers were pinned in their own half for most of the first period, but in the final play before halftime, Srinath Sooriyabandara broke through the defence to score under the posts. He converted his own try to level the scores. (SL 07–07 UZB)

The second half began just as the first ended—with Sri Lanka on the attack. The hosts moved the ball wide, and Janindu Dilshan’s dazzling footwork saw him slice through to score under the posts, with Diluksha Dange adding the extras. Soon after, Gayan Perera powered past two defenders to extend the lead, converted by Suranga Tennakoon. (SL 21–07 UZB)

Uzbekistan responded as scrum-half Makhmud Kalandarov produced a brilliant side step to find space and score, with the conversion narrowing the gap. However, the comeback was short-lived—off the restart, Chathura Soysa collected cleanly and sprinted through a scattered defence to seal the victory for the hosts.

Full Time Sri Lanka 26-14 Uzbekistan 

Game 02- Sri Lanka Vs Singapore

The hosts got off to a flying start as veteran Srinath Sooriyabandara spotted a gap inside his own half, turned on the pace, and raced away to score the opening try. (SL 05–00 SIN)

Singapore hit back while the Tuskers were a man down, with Janindu Dilshan in the sin bin. Daryl Liau took advantage of the overlap to score under the posts. (SL 05–05 SIN)

Sri Lanka responded immediately through Dinal Ekanayake, whose sharp sidestep sent his marker the wrong way before he touched down under the sticks. Sooriyabandara added the extras to give the Tuskers a seven-point lead at halftime. (SL 12–05 SIN)

The second half began with a bang, as the ball was worked wide to Sooriyabandara, who chipped ahead and grounded it perfectly for his second try of the game.(SL 17–05 SIN)

Momentum stayed with the hosts as Heshan Jansen finished off a well-worked move created by Suranga Tennakoon and Chathura Soysa, sealing another impressive victory for Sri Lanka.

Full Time Sri Lanka 22-05 Singapore 

Results of the other games 

Group C 

Sri Lanka

26

Uzbekistan

14

China

24

Singapore

00

Sri Lanka

22

Singapore

05

China

31

Uzbekistan

00

Group A

Hong Kong China topped the group with three comfortable wins, while the Philippines impressed to claim second place. Malaysia finished third, as Korea endured a day to forget.

Malaysia

19

Korea

07

Hong Kong China

33

Philippines

12

Malaysia

14

Philippines

26

Hong Kong China

50

Korea

00

Korea

17

Philippines

24

Hong Kong China

38

Malaysia

10

Group B

Japan dominated Group B with three commanding victories, while Thailand produced an impressive performance to finish second, with the UAE settling for third place. But game Japan played with UAE at half time the score stood at 33-00 when the game was stopped at half time and result will stand as a Japan victory .

UAE

33

Chinese Taipei

14

Japan

47

Thailand

00

UAE

05

Thailand

17

Japan

68 Chinese Taipei 00
Chinese Taipei
12 Thailand 26
Cup Semi-Finals

The semi-finals are yet determine as Group C games were not played due to adverse weather conditions.

Women’s Segment 

Group D

Japan cruised past all their opponents without conceding a single point, topping Group D to secure a smooth passage to the semi-finals.

India

17

UAE

07

Japan

73

Indonesia

00

India

52

Indonesia

00

Japan

69

UAE

00

UAE

31

Indonesia

00

Japan

43

India

00

Group E

China were equally dominant, sweeping past all three group opponents to book their place in the semi-finals.

Kazakhstan

22

Malaysia

10

China

46

Philippines

00

Kazakhstan

14

Philippines

05

China

31

Malaysia

14

Malaysia

10

Philippines

12

China

22

Kazakhstan

00

Group F

Hong Kong China and Thailand were evenly matched in a tightly contested group, but

Thailand this time came out on top, leaving Hong Kong China to settle for second place.

The hosts, Sri Lanka, endured three tough outings as they finished last in their group.

Thailand

43

Sri Lanka

00

Hong Kong China

22

Singapore

00

Thailand

38

Singapore

00

Hong Kong China

31

Sri Lanka

00

Sri Lanka

10

Singapore

22

Hong Kong China

05

Thailand

17

Cup Semi-Finals

In the women’s semi-finals, Japan will take on

Hong Kong China , while Thailand faces China.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will contest the 9th-place playoff semi-final against Malaysia at 10:22 AM.

Fans can catch all the action live on ThePapare 1 HD (Dialog TV Ch. 126)Dialog ViU App, and ThePapare.com from 9:45 AM onwards on Sunday .