Dehradun, India – For the second consecutive year, the Odisha girls’ rugby team has demonstrated their prowess on the national stage, clinching the silver medal at the 10th Junior (U-18) National Rugby 7s Championship. In a hard-fought final at the Ganga Athletics Stadium, Maharana Pratap Sports College, Dehradun, Odisha narrowly fell to Bihar with a score of 5-14, as Bihar successfully defended their title. Maharashtra secured the bronze medal by defeating Uttar Pradesh 17-12.
Dominant Performance Leading to the Final
Odisha’s journey to the final was marked by a series of commanding victories. In the semifinals, they delivered a dominant performance against Maharashtra, triumphing with a decisive 34-0 win. Earlier in the championship, their impressive run included significant victories: beating Manipur 53-0 and Uttar Pradesh 38-5 in Pool-B matches on July 8. They continued their winning streak in the pre-quarterfinals, overcoming Uttarakhand 45-0, and in the quarterfinals, where they defeated Kerala 32-0 on July 9.
Controversy Surrounding Odisha’s Participation
The championship, however, was not without controversy, as questions arose regarding the eligibility of the Odisha team. Allegations suggested that Odisha might have violated participation rules by not conducting the mandatory inter-district competition required for eligibility in the 2025 Junior National Championship. Maharashtra even played their semifinal match under protest, raising serious concerns.
In response to the Rugby Association of Maharashtra (RAM), the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the national governing body, stated that the Odisha Rugby Football Association (ORFA) did not hold the inter-district competition due to a heatwave. Instead, the Odisha team was selected based on a trial camp with the consent of all affiliated district units of ORFA. Consequently, the IRFU granted a one-time waiver, allowing Odisha to participate. However, this decision left several unanswered questions about other sports activities in Odisha during the heatwave, the unanimity of district units’ consent, and the selection process potentially favoring a specific institution, from which eight of the twelve team members were reportedly selected. A photo claiming to show these eight players was briefly posted on social media before being deleted. Questions also arose about the number and genuineness of ORFA’s district units and their utilization of annual funds from IRFU.
The Odisha Girls Team
The silver-medal winning Odisha girls’ team comprised the following talented players: Ranjulata Naik, Raimani Murmu, Pama Murmu, Mamali Singh, Barsarani Pradhan, Sandhyarani Biswal, Anita Murmu, Basi Oram, Manisha Majhi, Namita Hembram, Sumitra Murmu, and Sonali Marandi. The team was coached by Rajkishor Murmu, with Rajani Sabara serving as Manager and Kumkum as Physio.
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