Bhubaneswar/Chakradhar Majhi : Odisha’s nine promising women rugby players got the call to join the national rugby camp going on at the SAI Netaji Subhas Eastern Centre, Kolkata, West Bengal from July 29th to September 20.
Tarulata Naik, Hupi Majhi, Dumuni Marndi, Mama Naik, Nirmalya Rout, Subhalaxmi Barik, Parbati Kisku, Arati Murmu and Parbati Hansdah are the Odisha players in the camp.
The Indian women’s rugby 7s team has qualified for the upcoming edition of the Asian Games by being ranked seventh in the continent. The prestigious quadrennial event is scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, China, from September 23 to October 8.
“We joined the camp from 1st August. This is a matter of pride for me to be in the camp alongside many talented international players of our country”, said Subhalaxmi Barik.
As per the Indian Olympic Association policy for team events , the top eight ranked teams among participating countries of Asia in the last one year should be considered for participation in Asian Games, said Odisha Rugby Football Association Secretary Upendra Kumar Mohanty.
The Indian team has been consistently performing well on the Asian stage for the past few years with triumphs recently in the Asia Rugby 7s Trophy, the Asia Rugby U20 Championship, and the Asia Rugby U18 Championship, where the team won three silver medals, added Mohanty.
“Our State women’s team always made their mark by winning the 7’s side rugby championship at national platform. I am confident that our players will put their best effort to become in the final 14 squad for the upcoming Asian Games, added Mohanty.
