The following article on the Indian Under-18 Girls Rugby team Participation in the Rugby sevens U18 Girls event at the Paris World Games 2017 has been kindly submitted Rugby India
The Societe Generale Indian Under-18 Girls Rugby team participated in the Rugby sevens U18 Girls event at the Paris World Games 2017 that was held in France on 8th and 9th July 2017. This was the second time that an Indian Under-18 Girls Rugby team participated in an International Rugby event.
Last year the Indian Under-18 Girls Rugby team secured bronze at the inaugural Asian Under-18 Girls Rugby Sevens Championship in UAE. The team was supported by Societe Generale, the financial partner of Rugby India and participated under the aegis of the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the governing body for the sport of Rugby in India.
Paris World Games 2017
In their bid to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, France successfully hosted to the PARIS WORLD GAMES, a multi discipline event including Football, Badminton, Basketball, Handball, Rugby Sevens and Volleyball. The multi sports event was held in Paris from 7th to 13thJuly 2017 and more than 650 teams (all disciplines combined), 15,000 athletes from 10 to 25 years age groups from over 60 countries participated in the event.
In the World Games Rugby Sevens event, a total of 7 teams from across the world including UAE, Switzerland, Atlantis Girls (USA) , AAS Sarcelles, Comité Paris Ile de France , Baby Paris Ladies and India participated and battled for top honors.
Inda Rugby Under-18 Girls Rugby team
The players shortlisted to join the Indian National Training Camp were selected during the ‘Societe Generale Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship 2017’ held on 10th and 11th June 2017 at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, where a total of 21 States participated.
The 12 players selected to represent India at the Paris World Games 2017 were:
- Sumitra Nayak (Captain)- Odisha
- Basanti Pangi – Odisha
- Rajani Sabar- Odisha
- Lija Sardar- Odisha
- Soni Mandangi –Odisha
- Rima Oraon – West Bengal
- Lachmi Oraon – West Bengal
- Punam Oraon- West Bengal
- Sandhya Rai- West Bengal
- Suman Oraon- West Bengal
- Gargee Walekar- Maharashtra
- Sultana-Delhi
Coach- Nasser Hussain
Asst Coach- Rehmuddin Shaikh
Physio- Shabrez Mukaddam
Rugby India Press Confrence
Rugby India in association with Societe Generale hosted a press conference to announce the departure of the Indian National U18 Girls team to Paris.
The Conference was held at the Mumbai Press Club on 4th July, 2017.
As seen in the picture:
Standing
Nasser Hussain (GM, Rugby India & Coach), Lachmi Oraon (West Bengal), Sultana (Delhi), Sumitra Nayak (Captain), Rajani Sabar, (Odisha), Suman Oraon (West Bengal), Gargee Walekar (Maharashtra) & Rehmuddin Shaik (Assistant Coach)
Sitting –
Sandhya Rai, Punam Oraon, Rima Oraon(West Bengal), Basanti Pangi, Soni Mandangi, Lija Sardar, (Odisha)
Visit to FFR – Training Facility
Prior to the tournament, on Friday 7th July,2017 the Rugby India girls team had the opportunity to visit the French Rugby Federation training facility which is situated on the out skirts of Paris.
The girls interacted and trained with the French National Womens Rugby (Development) Team.
We would like to thank Societe Generale and French Rugby for making this possible. It was a great learning experience for the team.
TOURNAMENT
Rugby 7s event Day 1
Game 1: Baby Paris Ladies 29 – India 7
Team India went down fighting 29-7 against locals Baby Paris Ladies in their opening game at the Paris World Games Rugby 7s!
The Girls played well but came up short against their far bigger and stronger opponents
Game 2: AAS Sarcelles 12- India 10
Game 2 ended in another defeat for Team India. The Girls went down 12-10 against AAS Saracelles in what was a nail biting contest!
Game 3: Atlantis Girls 45- India 0
The Rugby India Under 18 Girls could not register a win on Day 1 at the Paris World Games Rugby 7s Unfortunately the score lines on Day 1 do not reflect the competitive and spirited performance of Team India which was truly applaudable.
Rugby 7s event Day 2
Game 4: India 50 – UAE 0
The Rugby India Under 18 Girls start Day 2 with an emphatic win over UAE rugby. The girls would take on AAS Sarcelles in their final match of the tournament.
Game 4: India 17– AAS Sarcelles 7
The Rugby India Under 18 Girls ended the tournament on a high after defeating AAS Sarcelles in their final match at the Paris World Games – Rugby 7s.
Nasser Hussain (GM, Rugby India & Coach)
“We are extremely proud of the girls’ performance. We would like to thank Societe Generale for their continued support and their commitment towards strengthening both women’s and age grade rugby in India.”
Thank you to Rugby India for Photos and article
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