Rugby Fever Grips Odisha, U-18 Asian Championship To Begin Today

Bhubaneswar: The Asia Rugby Sevens U-18 Girls Championship will kick off at Kalinga Stadium in Odisha capital on Friday.

At a press conference held here on Thursday, Rugby India announced the 2018 Indian National Under 18 Girls team, which includes five players from Odisha – Sumitra Nayak (vice captain), Soni Mandangi, Jemamani Naik, Lija Sardar and Parbati Kisku.

The Indian National team will play their first international in India. The three-day tournament is the first International Age Grade Rugby Tournament to be hosted in India, and being organized for the third time.

It is being hosted by Odisha government and Sports & Youth Services Department in association with Asia Rugby and Rugby India.

Odisha Sports Secretary Visha Dev said Odisha was glad to host a recognised championship of this kind.

Actor, filmmaker and former India Rugby player Rahul Bose said the event was a beginning of a celebration. “It has been a true honour to be a part of this sport and as a former India player, I hope this tournament will inspire current players, newcomers and the upcoming generation,” he said.

There are 12 participating countries, including Hong Kong, China, UAE, Philippines, Laos, Qatar, Nepal, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand and India. The teams have been divided into three pools.

The matches will be telecast live on Rugby India and Asia Rugby Facebook pages. The match on Friday begins at 7 pm and 12:30 pm and 8:30 pm on the other two days.

Adding to the glitz of Rugby in Odisha, Los Angeles-based producer Prashant Shah is making a film on the real-life Rugby coach Rudrakesh Jena. The film, Jungle Cry, stars Abhay Deol in the lead role and chronicles the life Jena, who led an under-14 team to victory at the International School Rugby Tournament in London in 2007.

The team has been shooting the movie in Odisha.