Monaco, June 25, 2024: The rugby sevens repechage tournament in Monaco came down to two thrilling finals, where two Olympic dreams were realised in high-stakes battles for the last Olympic Games Paris 2024 quotas.
Tournament favorites China for the women and South Africa for the men rose to the occasion, overcoming immense pressure to secure their coveted berths.
China came into the women’s tournament as the top team, and they didn't disappoint by beating Kenya 24-7 in the final to clinch their Paris spot.
The Chinese team has been nearly unstoppable this season, winning 26 matches in a row and consistently scoring high in their games, including a 40-7 semifinal victory over Poland.
China, who finished seventh in the last Olympics, have shown remarkable improvement and cohesion this season, positioning them as a team to watch in the upcoming Olympics.
"Everyone did their job, worked together, achieved the same goal. We are so excited to go to Paris," said Chen Keyi in the post-match interview.
If they can maintain their momentum, they could very well make significant waves in the French capital.
Following the repechage results, here are the teams that will compete this summer in Paris:
Men: France, New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji, Australia, Uruguay, Ireland, USA, Kenya, Samoa, South Africa, Japan.
Women: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, China, South Africa, USA
Rugby is due to take place from July 24-30.
(olympics.com)