IKF AOKC Day One – games go according to rankings

Day One of the IKF AOKC ended in four wins for the higher ranked teams, though some of the nations in the earlier stages of their development showed they could spring a surprise before the end of the week.

In the first game of the tournament, Korea provided spirited opposition to the host team, at least initially. Going to half time 9-4 behind, Korea stayed within touching distance for most of the match, although inaccurate shooting let them down. In the last few minutes, after a number of substitutions, Hong Kong expanded its winning margin to a more comfortable 17-6.

Game Two, in Pool B, was dominated by China, which brought a robust style of korfball to the tournament that was too much for the gallant but inexperienced Indonesia team. China won with ease: 25-4, captain Liang Shuaishuai leading the way with six. A number of breaks in the game, for injuries and at one stage a bent korf, meant that, with real playing time the game over-ran the schedule by about 20 minutes.

Malaysia and Macau met in the third game, also in Pool B, with both continuing the level of physicality that China had exhibited in the previous game, playing with strong determination to win. Although Malaysia edged in front, Macau stayed in touch, benefiting from the recent joint training sessions that they had prior to the tournament with Australia. In the end, in the final quarter of the game, Malaysia pulled away to a 15-8 win, Wan Li Ker scoring five and Randy Ho Kang Lip scoring four.

In the final game, Japan gave New Zealand a much tougher battle than the IKF rankings would indicate, staying level until the final minute of the first half, when the Kiwis finally pulled ahead by two, and matching them again goal for goal in a low scoring second half for a final score of 11-9. Sho Furuki stood out for Japan, scoring five.