Intense battles and thrilling victories marked the conclusion of the opening round of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger in Dubai, with Kenya and China emerging as champions.
Having been relegated from the HSBC Sevens Series last year, Kenya's men entered the Challenger with a burning desire to return. They dominated the competition, with a hard-fought 12-5 victory over Chile in the final solidifying their golden comeback.
Their journey to the top wasn't easy. A close 21-5 win against Uruguay in the semi-final showcased their grit and determination. Meanwhile, Chile battled through the losers' bracket, defeating Germany 15-7 to secure their place in the final.
Uruguay claimed the bronze medal with a 12-7 victory over Germany, further adding to the excitement of the tightly contested tournament.
China's women were a class apart throughout the competition. They displayed their prowess with a convincing 19-5 win over Kenya in the final, avenging their earlier 17-12 loss to the same team in the pool stages.
China's journey to the gold was marked by impressive wins against Spain (24-7) in the quarter-finals and France (26-10) in the semi-finals. Kenya, on the other hand, defeated Brazil (24-0) in the quarter-finals before overcoming a determined Russia (17-12) in the semi-finals.
The bronze medal went to France, who edged out Russia 14-12 in a nail-biting match.
The World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger provides a valuable platform for emerging rugby nations to showcase their talent and compete against established teams.
This year's tournament in Dubai proved to be no different, with several players putting on stellar performances that caught the eye of fans and pundits alike.
Kenya's Alvin Otiieno and China's Wu Yangmin were awarded the men's and women's Player of the Final honors, respectively, for their exceptional contributions to their teams' victories.
The next round of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger will take place in Hong Kong on April 5-6, 2024. All eyes will be on Kenya and China to see if they can maintain their winning momentum, while other teams will be eager to challenge for top honors.