KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia - The China men's team gained sweet revenge over rival South Korea at the Borneo Sevens rugby tournament at Likas Stadium on Saturday.

China's men's team in action against South Korea in a group game on Saturday. China won, 36-7, to earn a quarterfinal date Sunday against the United Arab Emirates. [Provided to China Daily]

China's eastern neighbor knocked it out of its home event, the Shanghai Sevens, last month at the quarterfinal stage, but it was all China in its group clash in searing conditions in the final ranking event of the HSBC Asian Rugby Sevens Series.

The men in red led from start to finish to run out a resounding 36-7 victory over the Shanghai tournament's champion team.

China also cruised through its two earlier Group A games - downing Sri Lanka 31-17 and Thailand 36-0 - to top the section.

It will face the United Arab Emirates in Sunday's quarterfinals.

"I am very happy with how the team played today and, yes, it was good to beat the Koreans after what happened in Shanghai," said coach Xu Hui, who is making his debut in charge of the team.

"We have about five of our top players away with the army team in Australia, so that makes it even more satisfying."

Potential Cup dates with Asian powerhouses Japan and Hong Kong, the Borneo event's defending champion, loom on the horizon, but 31-year-old Xu is not looking beyond Sunday's opening encounter against the UAE.

"All I am thinking about now is our first game tomorrow. We will just take it step by step," he said.

If victorious, Xu's team will face either the Philippines or Malaysia in the semis.

In the other half of the draw, Hong Kong will meet Chinese Taipei in the quarters, while Japan and South Korea are set for a tantalizing encounter.

Meanwhile, the China women's team maintained its unbeaten run on Saturday and cruised into Sunday's Cup final of the Asia-Pacific tournament.

There were several personnel changes from the team that won the Shanghai event in a canter, but the new-look squad has not missed a beat in Kota Kinabalu.

In a competition that features four Asian and four Pacific teams, China won its three pool games on Friday.

It opened with a 29-0 whitewash of the host and then beat a physical Tonga team 21-15 before harnessing high-scoring Papua New Guinea 12-10.

In Saturday's quarterfinals, it swamped Singapore 29-5 before booking its berth in the final with a 22-12 win over Hong Kong in the semis.

It will meet PNG in the final.

China Daily