KUALA LUMPUR: Seven teams will feature in three series of the Asia Rugby Women's Sevens, which begins this weekend. And the National Sports Council's target for the national team is to finish top six to be included for the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games programme.
The national women's sevens team have not been in the NSC programme since 2020.
Malaysia Rugby Union deputy president Amir Amri Mohamad said he is confident that the women's team are capable of finishing top six to be included for the NSC programme.
"It is a realistic target and the players have vowed to give the top Asian teams a run for their money," said Amir after handing over the Jalur Gemilang to captain Rozliana Ridwan yesterday at Cobra club in Petaling Jaya.
In preparation for the tournament, the national team played seven friendly matches against Singapore last week, winning three, drawing one and losing three.
In the first series scheduled in Bangkok on Oct 22-23, Malaysia are drawn in Group B with China and Hong Kong while Group A consists of Japan, Kazakhstan, the Philippines and Thailand.
Sri Lanka were supposed to play in the tournament but were suspended by Asia Rugby due to political interference by a third party.
National coach Siddiq Amir Jalil said Malaysia will face a strong challenge from China, who played in the World Sevens Series but they have a fighting chance against Hong Kong, who have not trained much or play matches overseas in the last two years due to the pandemic.
"I believe we can beat Hong Kong to finish top in our group to finish top four in the first series," said Siddiq.
The second series will be in Incheon, South Korea on Nov 12-13 while the third series is in Al Ain, the United Arab Emirates on Nov 26-27.
Last year, eight teams took part and Malaysia finished seventh.
Malaysian team: Juanna Sari Petrus, Chrestiyanti Paunil, Jannie Peter, Shania Suinani Baduk, Rozliana Ridwan, Norfarahana Aziz, Kajolin Jenisin, Valerie Anak Juan, Dinah Syafiqah Sadali, Afiayah Fauzi, Nur Syazwana Fauzi, Josie Mavcellina Anak Gone.