India’s U20 Rugby Teams Shine at Asia Rugby Championship: Women Reach Semi-Finals, Men Secure First Win Over UAE

The Indian U20 Women’s rugby team advanced to the semi-finals of the Asia Rugby Emirates Rugby 7s U20 Championship, showcasing a strong performance on their return. The U20 Men’s team also made history by defeating UAE for the first time in the tournament. The women’s side, coached by Kiano Fourie and led by captain Bhumika Shukla, began with a 17-10 victory against Kazakhstan, with Guriya Kumari, Anshu Kumari, and Alpana Kumari scoring tries. They followed this with a 31-7 win over UAE, with Bhumika scoring two tries, and Tanushree Bhosale, Muskan Piploda, and Anshu also contributing. This victory secured their place in the semi-finals before their final pool match versus Hong Kong China. In the men’s competition, the team coached by Paco Hernandez achieved a 24-17 victory over UAE, their first-ever win at the U20 level. Charan Hembram, Goldan Kumar, and David Munda scored tries, with David’s late try sealing the win despite a comeback attempt by UAE. Despite a strong showing, the men’s team subsequently lost to Sri Lanka and Hong Kong China. Sri Lanka and Hong Kong China advanced from Pool A, while China and Malaysia led Pool B. India’s U20 Women will compete in the semi-finals, while the men’s team will play Kazakhstan to conclude their campaign.