Hong Kong Sevens: hosts savour double joy as fans ‘blow lid off' Kai Tak Stadium
Hong Kong gave their jubilant supporters cause for cheer by recording twin triumphs on the opening day of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.
Advertisement
Competing in the secondary Melrose Claymores tournament, the city's women scored five tries in a 29-14 win over Kazakhstan on Friday.
For the men, Max Denmark led the way with a hat-trick, as head coach Jevon Groves' team survived an early hiccup to blow away China 31-7. Harry Sayers and James Kee, on his debut, also crossed for Hong Kong.
Sayers felt that the atmosphere inside the new host venue at Kai Tak Sports Park had surpassed that created for Hong Kong Stadium's farewell tournament 12 months ago. Women's star Chong Ka-yan, who scored twice, added that there was a 'concert-like' mood.
After scoring his team's second try, Sayers said: '[The noise] was incredible … it blew the lid off. It's a great opportunity to play here, but we also want to inspire the next generation – we want this [tournament] to carry on forever.'
Advertisement
Playing for the first time since this month's poor Challenger Series campaign in Cape Town cost them a chance of HSBC SVNS Series promotion, Hong Kong conceded a first-minute try to Song Boyang.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Max Denmark aims to transfer his Hong Kong Sevens X-factor to city's 15s World Cup quest
A lot has happened since Max Denmark last pulled on a 15s jersey for Hong Kong in 2018. Advertisement An ever-present in the city's sevens side, Denmark has accumulated Asian Games gold medals, regional dominance and some painful near misses in the bid to get the men's team to the highest level. Throughout it all there have been tries – lots and lots of tries. There were three alone in a 31-7 rout of China during the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in March. The 25-year-old also has two from eight previous Test appearances, and added another – Hong Kong's only score – in the warm-up game against Japan last month. It is that nose for the line, as much as anything, that has earned him a spot in the team to play the United Arab Emirates on Saturday in the opening round of the Asia Rugby Championship. Max Denmark (right) puts in a tackle for Hong Kong against ACT Brumbies A in May. Photo: HKCR And while excited to be back, Denmark admitted the sheer volume of information involved meant it had taken some time to readjust to a 'new but really enjoyable challenge'.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- South China Morning Post
2025 events at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park, from National Games to Football Festival
Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park has been notching up firsts since its main stadium was officially opened in March, and the milestones are set to continue during 2025. More than 42,000 spectators shared the euphoria of watching the city's footballers beat India at Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday, in the first outing at the venue by the Hong Kong representative team. The Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens was staged at the stadium for the first time in late March, by which time the HK$30 billion (US$3.9 billion) park had already hosted international 15-a-side rugby at its 5,000-seat sports ground. An aerial view of Hong Kong's new Kai Tak Stadium, which opened in March. Photo: Reuters Elite-level snooker came to the indoor Kai Tak Arena, which can hold up to 10,000 people, for March's World Grand Prix. Here is a selection of what is still to come this year. National Games of China Hong Kong will co-host the 15th National Games with Guangdong and Macau from November 9 to 21, with three of its seven medal events – rugby sevens, fencing and men's handball – to be held at Kai Tak. The sevens will be held at the 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium from November 12 to 14, after handball takes over Kai Tak Arena from November 1 to 10.
South China Morning Post
05-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Kai Tak's lack of cricket ground is missed opportunity, governing body's ex-CEO says
Hong Kong missed the chance to create a thriving, world-class cricket hub when plans for a suitable playing arena at Kai Tak were abandoned, the sport's former chief in the city has said. Advertisement Tim Cutler said he had pushed during his two years as Cricket Hong Kong chief executive for the secondary stadium at Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) – now known as the youth sports ground – to be configured for cricket. Melbourne Cricket Club was among the sub-consultants employed during KTSP's planning stage. Ultimately, however, an athletics track was installed at the 5,000-seat venue, which can also stage football and rugby. 'There are so many facilities with running tracks nearby, but Hong Kong has no world-class cricket ground to host major events,' said Cutler, who could not bring himself to visit the smaller venue when he attended March's Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at Kai Tak Stadium. 'All the early designs had cricket in the sports ground. It's 150 metres [in diameter], which is exactly what you need for top-level cricket. It's hugely frustrating.' Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara during his second Hong Kong T20 Blitz appearance in 2018. Photo: Phoebe Leung Now CEO of the Vanuatu Cricket Association, Cutler pointed to Rwanda's 10,000-capacity Gahanga Cricket Stadium, which opened in 2017 and has already hosted more T20Is than any other African venue.
