Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens: dreamlike debut for Haruka Uematsu despite Thailand loss
Hong Kong team’s youngest member scores on her first Sevens appearance after being left on bench during opening draw with Denmark
Haruka Uematsu said she felt as though she was in a dream standing on the pitch at Kai Tak Stadium after being called on in a 24-12 loss to Thailand during the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens on Saturday.
There was double delight for debutant Uematsu, who scored late on in front of a raucous South Stand in her side’s Melrose Claymores defeat.
“The moment I was called upon, I knew I had to clear my mind so that I could stay focused and listen only to my teammates’ voices in a very noisy stadium,” the 19-year-old said. “There were some very loud cheers from the stands, but I knew I had to find my teammates’ voice so that we could run our play.
“For a second, I felt like I was in a dream [standing on the pitch], but the moment the whistle blew, and I started chasing after the ball, I was very focused on what I needed to do.”
Uematsu’s try came on the stroke of full-time, after Jirawan Chutrakun, captain Narathip Maneesai and Nantadchaporn Yodya had all scored to give the visiting Thais a solid lead.
“The moment I got the ball in my hand, I used all the skills I could, trying to step past and push away my opponent and push myself over the line to score,” she said.