The Chinese women’s rugby sevens team is intensifying their preparations for the Paris Olympics in Nanjing, under the dedicated guidance of coach Lu Zhuan.
Following a tough loss to Japan in last year’s Asian qualifiers, the team faced a setback in advancing directly to the French capital. In response, Lu was appointed as the new coach, bringing fresh strategies and unwavering commitment that sparked a significant turnaround.
Over the past eight months, the squad showcased their resilience by securing victories at the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series events in Dubai, Montevideo, and Krakow. Building on this momentum, last month they went undefeated in the World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco, clinching the final spot for the upcoming Olympics.
This achievement marks a remarkable journey since their debut three years ago at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games, where they advanced to the quarterfinals and finished seventh.
Lu remains optimistic about the team’s prospects in Paris. “As I always say, I’m incredibly excited, and at the moment we clinched Olympic qualification, my heart was racing because the joy was immense. In Paris, regardless of the opponent, we must focus on our game and showcase our style,” he shared.
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Chinese women's rugby sevens team prepare for Paris Olympics
cgtn.com