The Indian U20 Women’s rugby team delivered a dominant, clinical performance on Sunday to secure the bronze medal for the second consecutive year at the Asia Rugby Emirates U20 Sevens 2026.
Playing in front of an energetic home crowd at the Kalinga Stadium, India overwhelmed Sri Lanka 27-0 in the third-place playoff to replicate their podium finish from the previous edition in Rajgir, Bihar.
The hosts entered the final day of competition with high hopes, kicking off Day 2 with a high-octane semi-final clash against Malaysia. In a nail-biting contest that went down to the wire, India pushed the Malaysians to the brink before narrowly falling 12-14. Samruddhi Kadam and Khushi Devi crossed the whitewash for a try apiece, while Mamali Singh slotted home a conversion in a valiant effort that fell just two points short of a spot in the final.
Refusing to let the semi-final heartbreak linger, head coach Kiano Fourie rallied his squad for the bronze medal showdown against Sri Lanka. India took control from the opening whistle, blending relentless defensive pressure with fluid attacking play to keep Sri Lanka scoreless.
Samruddhi Kadam led the offensive charge with a brilliant brace of tries, continuing her standout form from earlier in the day. She was well-supported by Aditi Londhe, Akshaya NS, and Anita Murmu, who each touched down for a try to put the match well out of reach. Dipali Tathe added an early conversion to cap off a comprehensive 27-0 triumph.
Men’s Team Finishes on a High
In the U20 Men’s division, the Indian squad endured a challenging start to Day 2 before finding their rhythm in their final outing. Facing Chinese Taipei in their concluding group-stage fixture, India fought hard but went down 5-12, with Rahul Majhi accounting for the hosts’ lone try. In the subsequent classification match against Singapore, India struggled to contain their opponents’ pace, falling 5-29, though Majhi once again managed to get his name on the scoresheet.
Determined to end their home campaign on a winning note, the Indian men saved their best for last in the seventh/eighth-place playoff against Thailand. Ajit Nag starred with a pair of tries, while Pushpender and Naman Yadav added one each. With Bharat Kisan and Rahul Majhi contributing a conversion apiece, India cruised to a convincing 24-7 victory to claim seventh place overall.
Hong Kong China Complete Double Sweep
Elsewhere in the tournament, Hong Kong China proved to be the undisputed powerhouse of Asian youth rugby, capturing the gold medal in both the men’s and women’s categories. Malaysia finished as the silver medalists across both divisions, while Chinese Taipei claimed the men’s bronze to round out the podium standings.
Day 2 Match Results & Final Standings
| Category | Fixture / Stage | Result |
|---|---|---|
| U20 Women | Semi-Final | India 12 – 14 Malaysia |
| U20 Women | Bronze Medal Match | India 27 – 0 Sri Lanka |
| U20 Men | Group Stage | India 5 – 12 Chinese Taipei |
| U20 Men | Classification Match | India 5 – 29 Singapore |
| U20 Men | 7th/8th-Place Playoff | India 24 – 7 Thailand |
Final Medal Tally:
- U20 Women: 🥇 Hong Kong China | 🥈 Malaysia | 🥉 India
- U20 Men: 🥇 Hong Kong China | 🥈 Malaysia | 🥉 Chinese Taipei
