Malaysia’s national rugby Sevens team will begin their campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games today at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Rugby Field, facing a challenging Pool A lineup that includes defending champions Hong Kong, China, and Uzbekistan. The tournament marks a critical opportunity for Malaysia to build on their steady progress, having reached the quarter-finals in the last two Asian Games since 2018.
Coach Nik Safuan Ismade has urged his players to approach the competition fearlessly, emphasizing that the team did not come merely to participate but to compete and represent their country with determination. He acknowledged the strength of opponents Hong Kong and China—China having advanced to the semi-finals in the previous edition after defeating Malaysia in Hangzhou—but stressed the importance of Malaysia not being intimidated. Safuan highlighted the need to focus on securing a positive result against Uzbekistan while remaining competitive against the stronger sides.
The squad includes several debutants who are reportedly excited and motivated despite some nerves, eager to prove their worth on the international stage. Safuan expressed optimism about their potential contribution to the team’s efforts.
Malaysia’s preparation included a five-day training camp in Iwata, Japan, where the players benefited from working with Yuichiro Fujii, coach of the Shizuoka Blue Revs and former director of Japan’s national team during their 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final run. Safuan specifically sought Fujii’s expertise to bolster Malaysia’s defensive systems, implement new tactical approaches, and enhance their tracking and defensive lines.
Adjusting to the local conditions was also a crucial aspect of the camp, as the team acclimatized to Japan’s colder and rainy weather, factors that could influence gameplay during the tournament.
In the Asian Games format, the top two teams from each pool will advance to the quarter-finals, along with the two best third-placed teams. Malaysia’s objective is to maintain their recent streak of reaching the knockout stages, continuing their upward trajectory in regional rugby sevens competition.