Japanese women secure Rio 2016 spot with win at Asian rugby sevens regional qualifier

Japan celebrate after securing their spot at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games ©World Rugby

Japan overcame Kazakhstan in a tight Asian regional qualifier second-leg final at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground today to book their place in the inaugural Olympic women's rugby sevens tournament in Rio de Janeiro next year.

This weekend's hosts had won the opening continental qualifying round in Hong Kong earlier this month ahead of Kazakhstan in second and the host nation in third, meaning their destiny was in their own hands.

But after winning all three matches yesterday, the Japanese were edged-out 7-5 by Kazakhstan in today's pool stage decider, losing when Balzhan Koishybayeva converted Anna Yakovleva’s try after Ano Kuwai had given the hosts a 5-0 half-time lead.

Due to points difference decided over the two rounds, however, Kazakhstan still needed to win by 23 points or more in the final rematch to claim the single qualifying spot.

This meant they had to take risks, which duly allowed their more disciplined opponents to capitalise.

Chiharu Nakamura scored Japan’s opening try following a break by Marie Yamaguchi, with Yume Okuroda adding the conversion for a 7-0 half-time lead.

A Kazakh try by Kundyzay Barktybayeva, superbly converted by Koishybayeva, briefly restored parity thereafter and silenced the partisan home crowd.

Yet Japan kept battling and were rewarded when 19-year-old rising star Mifuyu Koide scored under the posts.

Japan proved too strong for Kazakhstan with a 14-7 victory in the final in Tokyo ©World Rugby

Okuroda added the extras in the final moments to allow the celebrations to begin.

It completed a superb autumn for Japanese rugby after the men's team secured their Rio spot three weeks ago in Hong Kong.

This followed their 15-a-side men's team's unprecedented success at the World Cup, where they gained a shock 34-32 win over South Africa, and further triumphs over the United States and Samoa, en route to a narrow third-place finish in Pool B.

“We are really happy,” said head coach Keiko Asami.

“We started working towards this back in March 2011 just after the earthquake.

"We went to Hong Kong for the sevens and had a moment of silence and from that moment started working hard. so to qualify here is great.

“I’m really proud that we were able to qualify for the Olympics with the men’s team."

China enjoyed a 19-10 victory over Hong Kong to claim third-place.