Rugby: South Korea beat Sri Lanka 43-0 [November 22 2010]

Sri Lanka suffered its second successive defeat in the Asian Games seven-a-side rugby competition when they were massacred by South Africa 0-43 in their men’s qualifying round match played in Gunagzhou today. South Africans showed no mercy against the helpless Lankan side as they ran down as many as seven tries of which four were converted. South Africa went on offensive from the kick off and had a rich harvest of 26 points by the short whistle.

They scored three more tries in the second half to extend their victory margin. This was Sri Lanka’s second successive defeat, having lost to China 5-26 in yesterday’s opening game. The only consolation for Sri Lanka rugby team was their 42-12 win over minnows India in the last qualifying round match. India played some entertaining rugby though they were trailing 12-21 at half time. But Sri Lanka dominated in the entire second half to score another 21 points without allowing Indians to make any scoring.

Sri Lanka scored seven goals and four of them were converted by skipper Radhika Hettiarachchi, who was in dazzling form to run down four tries. Srinath Sooriyabandara (2) and Saliya Handapangodage (1) too joined the try feast.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s archery team, comprising Nipun Seneviratne, Lakmal Rajasinghe and Indranath Perera, were placed ninth in the men’s team championship. In badminton, Lin Dan of China won the men’s single gold medal, beating Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia by two sets to one - 21-13, 15-21, 21-10, in the final.