IKF AOKC 2018 Day 1: Reviews, results, images & videos

Sunday, 29-July-2018 – First day of competition at the IKF Asia Oceania Korfball Championship 2018 in Japan. You can follow live all the tournament on worldkorfball.org

OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT PROFILES (#AOKC2018 – #korfball):

Website: aokc2018.strikingly.com
Facebook: facebook.com/aokc2018
Twitter: twitter.com/aokc2018
Instagram: instagram.com/aokc2018
Live streaming games (by Japan Korfball) on youtube.com/channel/UCXa72Gr7UIKDqgv3xRmQ2Cg

DAY 1 RESULTS

*Due to a typhoon on it’s way to Tokyo affecting Macau’s flight, some minor changes were done to Sunday’s #AOKC2018 match schedule in games 1 & 4.

GAMES REVIEW

Match 1: INDONESIA 3 – HONG KONG CHINA 25

Statistics: worldkorfball.org/matches/indonesia-hong-kong-china-2214

Indonesia met Hong Kong China in the first match of the tournament. As one of the more experienced teams here, and reflecting their recently achieved status as the world’s number 9 ranked korfball nation, Hong Kong was expected to dominate the young Indonesia team. Kwok Kuen Ham scored the tournament’s first goal from a penalty after three minutes. As the first half progressed, Hong Kong built a comfortable lead, capitalising on the defensive naivety of their opponents, whose infringing was punished by referee Luke Rosie awarding a series of free passes and penalties. At half time the game was effectively over with Hong Kong ahead by 12-2. A series of substitutions in the third quarter gave Hong Kong’s squad a chance to step onto the field as the team will be set on playing a medal match at the end of the week, and the scoring progress continued to deliver a final result of Indonesia 3 – Hong Kong China 25.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE96jsL0YIA (Video by Japan Korfball)

Match 2: CHINESE TAIPEI 39 – KOREA 9

Statistics: worldkorfball.org/matches/chinese-taipei-korea-2212

Chinese Taipei dominated the second game, imposing their characteristic powerful structure on Korea right from the start, when star player Ricky Wu scored effortlessly after three seconds. Predictably, the procession continued with the defending champion team going through the motions and mounting an impressive score at an even pace. Korea’s strength at this tournament is not easy to determine based on this game, and it will take another game or two to work out what chance they will have of qualifying for the World Championship. Going to the bench at half time, Chinese Taipei cycled on almost an entirely new team for the second half, without affecting their progress. Shu Chi Chang was particularly impressive in the half a game she played, suggesting she will be near the top of the scoring charts at the end of the tournament.

(Video not available)

Match 3: JAPAN 10 – NEW ZEALAND 9

Statistics: worldkorfball.org/matches/japan-new-zealand-2213

In the game that promised to be the closest of the day, with New Zealand taking on tournament host Japan, both teams were anxious for a winning start in their quest for qualification from this tournament. New Zealand, through captain Bevan Lawson converting when Japan lost possession. Both teams struggled to deal with the tension of this feisty game, and mistakes were made at both ends. Japan managed to erase New Zealand’s two goal lead, only for a late first burst by the Kiwis taking the half time score to 8-4. In the third quarter, however, with some effective substitutions, Japan added control to the energy they had already demonstrated, storming back to score six unanswered goals and take a 10-8 lead. Although the final quarter was frantic, it was goalless apart from one score late by New Zealand giving rise to the possibility of a golden goal, though that was not to be, and in the end, Japan prevailed, just, by 10-9.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnuhJzHg7zg (Video by Japan Korfball)

Match 1: MACAU CHINA 25 – PHILIPPINES 4

Statistics: worldkorfball.org/matches/macau-philippines-2211

Participating for the first time at an Asia Oceania korfball tournament, the Philippines featured in the final game of day one when they stepped out against Macau China, whose late arrival due to the typhoon warning resulted in this game being rescheduled. Macau China made up for lost time, building a strong lead over their less experienced rivals, who worked hard and will learn from the experience of playing in this tournament. Macau China showed that they will be a threat against several of the other teams they meet and will take encouragement from this victory in their quest for qualification to the world championships. They maintained their intensity throughout, rolling substitutes on and off, and can be satisfied with this start to the tournament, particularly after their travel disruptions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6BRnT-5Iv8 (Video by Japan Korfball)

RANKING POOLS AFTER DAY 1:

Match schedule, tournament rules and more on ➡️ ikf.org/event/ikf-asia-oceania-korfball-championship

You can follow all games play-by-play through IKF live data website on worldkorfball.org: Click here

More on IKF social media profiles (#AOKC2018 – #korfball):

• facebook.com/korfball.org
• twitter.com/korfball
• instagram.com/korfball_org

DAY 2 MATCH SCHEDULE:

DAY 1 IMAGE GALLERY (by Shota Kawajiri – @AOKC2018):