The 10th Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship commenced today at the iconic Kalinga Stadium, drawing young athletes from across the country..
The tournament is being jointly organised by the Department of Sports and Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha, Rugby India, and the Odisha State Rugby Association.
The opening ceremony featured a ceremonial procession where Dumuni Marndi, star player and Vice-Captain of the Indian National Rugby Team, brought the championship trophy onto the field. She was followed by the captains of all 24 participating states, symbolising unity, discipline, and competitive spirit. As per tradition, the captain of the host state, Odisha, entered the field last.
During the event, Gerald Prabhu, Secretary of the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), felicitated the Sports Minister.
The ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav (Commissioner-cum-Secretary, DSYS), Dr. Yedulla Vijay (Director of Sports), Ashok Kumar Panda and Bijay Kumar Swain (Additional Secretaries, DSYS), and Upendra Mohanty (Vice President, Odisha Rugby Football Association).
Day 1 Highlights: Odisha Girls Shine
The competition began with the Under-15 Girls’ category. On the first day, powerhouse teams like Odisha, Maharashtra, and Bihar demonstrated exceptional dominance in the group stages. The matches drew a crowd of over 2,000 spectators, reflecting the growing popularity of Rugby in the region.
Host state Odisha delivered a masterclass performance in Pool-D:
Defeated Uttar Pradesh: 35-0
Defeated Rajasthan: 28-0
Odisha remains unbeaten, showcasing a balance of disciplined offense and rock-solid defense. This winning streak has significantly boosted the morale of the home team as they aim for the championship title.
Other Key Results:
Defending Champions Maharashtra (Pool-A): Defeated Assam (33-0) and Jammu & Kashmir (40-0).
Last year’s Runners-up Bihar (Pool-B): Recorded massive victories against Jharkhand (67-0) and Manipur (64-0).
Delhi (Pool-C): Leads the pool after wins over Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Other Victors: West Bengal and Kerala (Pool-E), Gujarat and Chandigarh (Pool-F), DNHDD (Pool-G), and Karnataka and Chhattisgarh (Pool-H) also secured wins.
Tournament Overview
The championship features over 550 athletes under the age of 15 representing 24 states across India.
Girls’ Championship: January 16th – 17th.
Boys’ Championship: January 20th – 21st.
The Government of Odisha has ensured world-class hospitality, accommodation, and tight security for all participating athletes and officials.
Odisha continues to be a cornerstone of India’s rugby ecosystem, not only by nurturing grassroots talent but also by consistently providing elite players to the national squad. Through its partnership with Rugby India, the state has cemented its reputation as a global hub for sports excellence.
