defending champions Sri Lanka to a third defeat in fo

Years of meticulous planning and traversing the globe winning back-to-back rugby sevens world series titles had coach Ben Ryan prepared for just about anything when he revealed his Fiji squad for the Olympics.One thing he couldnt guarantee was the reaction of the players who missed out, a response he now regards as the measure of the team.One by one, they came in and one by one I told them their fate and to a man they were outstanding in the way they took their news, Ryan recalled. If they werent selected they thanked us, they shook our hands and they left with their heads held high.It proved once and for all, in case there was even a tiny doubt in Ryans mind, that the squad hes been honing for Rio de Janeiro is way, way bigger than any individual -- this group of players is what Fijians everywhere refer to as the peoples team.And the people have high expectations. Fijians have competed in the Olympics since 1956, but have never won a medal. Theyve never had a chance until now, though, to contest their national sport at the Summer Games.It is fair to say, Fiji is close to meltdown with Rio fever, Ryan told World Rugby this week. It is always an obsession on the island to follow the team but has gone to a new level with the Olympics. Hundreds have lined the training pitch to watch us.Since moving from England in 2013, Ryan has harnessed the passion Fijians have for their kind of football, reinforcing the bonds between the game and the people in a Pacific island nation which has become too familiar with seeing its best rugby talent move abroad seeking opportunities.Despite never reaching the World Cup semifinals in the traditional 15-a-side game, Fijians have long been the masters of the abbreviated sevens version because of their size, speed and flair.So when rugby sevens was added to the Olympic program for Rio, the goal posts shifted and gold became the goal.Even former San Francisco 49ers player and Australian National Rugby League star Jarryd Hayne quit the NFL in a bid to make the Fijian team -- but he didnt give himself enough time to break in.The inspirational Osea Kolinisau will lead the mens team, after he has carried the Fiji flag at the opening ceremony for the Olympics.With 243 matches in the world series, the 30-year-old is right for the job. He topped the tackle count in the 2015-16 season and, when Fiji was still recovering from the devastating Cyclone Winston, Kolinisau dedicated the Las Vegas stop on the world series circuit in March to the people, delivering the title with a player-of-the-match performance in the final. The following month in Hong Kong, the Fijians won again to all but secure the world championship.Winning the world series last season was a really massive one, Kolinisau said. When we went back home, our normal three-hour trip from the airport took us about 10 hours. Villagers wanting to thank the team for what theyve done.In Savenaca Rawaca, Jasa Veremalua, Kitione Taliga and Jerry Tuwai, Fiji had four players in the top 14 on the world series try-scoring list last season -- no other country had more than one. As well, theres France-based Josua the Fijian Bus Tuisova in a versatility role and forwards such as Leone Nakarawa to provide possession.Waisale Serevi, one of the greatest sevens exponents of all time, is a proud Fijian who knows what the OIympic team is facing.Theres nothing less than the gold medal that theyre looking for, Serevi told The Associated Press. They dont want the silver. They dont want the bronze. They want the gold medal back at home.The Fijian men open their campaign against host Brazil next Tuesday, followed by group matches Argentina and the United States.Ryan has an obligation to use a Fiji-style game plan, full of running from all parts of the field and risky passes, but is confident the extra fitness he has drilled into the squad and the extraordinary skills that can only be acquired by having a deep pool of players will ensure his team is consistently playing at a high level.We play the way that everybody wants the game to be played, he said. We keep the ball alive, we do have audacious off-loads, they play with a smile on their face.We play with a high risk -- but its only a risk if you make a mistake.Its a high-risk, high-reward mission for Ryan, who agrees the gold medal is the No. 1 priority.Theres not many sports around the globe that has such an impact to the whole nation, he said. The country does grind to a standstill when the boys are playing. There is pressure on the boys to perform, because those (fans) will also be pointing fingers if things dont work out. Hunter Renfroe Padres Jersey . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Franmil Reyes Jersey . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players. http://www.padressale.com/padres-craig-stammen-jersey/ . PAUL, Minn. Garrett Richards Padres Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Matt Strahm Padres Jersey . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug.Pakistan made light work of a 151-run target to end their Asia Cup campaign with a comfortable six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Dhaka. Umar Akmal hit 48 from 37 balls, helping Pakistan cruise home, condemning defending champions Sri Lanka to a third defeat in four matches in their last Twenty20 International before this months ICC T20 World Cup in India.Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi won the toss and elected to field but an unbeaten opening partnership of 110 between Dinesh Chandimal (58) and Tillakratne Dilshan (75 not out) saw Sri Lanka put themselves in a commanding position with six overs remaining. Dinesh Chandimal (r) and Dilshan shared an opening-wicket stand of 110 Chandimal was caught by Sharjeel Khan of the bowling off Wahab Riaz in the 15th over, before Shehan Jayasuriya (four) was dismissed with the last ball of the 16th, sparking the fall of three wickets in the space of 10 balls.Left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan (2-18) was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, dismissing both Chamara Kapugedera (two) and Dasun Shanaka (0) cheaply as Sri Lanka limped to 150/4 from their allocated 20 overs.ddddddddddddMohammad Hafeez got Pakistans reply off to a flier as he crunched 14 runs off 11 balls, including three fours, before being caught and bowled by Jayasuriya. Mohammad Irfan took 2-18 from his four overs But Sarfraz Ahmed (38) came in and steadied the ship, sharing a 35-run partnership with Sharjeel Khan, who struck four consecutive boundaries in the fifth over before mistiming a pull from a Dilshan delivery, allowing Kapugedera to take an easy catch at long on.Pakistan were well on their way to victory when Khan (31) was trapped lbw by Milinda Siriwardana with Akmal and Shoaib Malik (13 not out) sharing a 56-run stand before the former was caught by Thisara Perera with the scores level.Iftikhar Ahmed came in but did not face a ball as Malik scored the winning run with the second ball of the final over to seal victory for Pakistan.Sky Sports is the only place you can watch all 35 games of the 2016 ICC World Twenty20, starting with Zimbabwe v UAE on Tuesday, March 8, at 9am on Sky Sports 2 HD. ' ' '