Bhubaneswar : The Odisha boys’ rugby team finished as runners-up in the 2025 Junior National Rugby 7’s Championship held in Uttarakhand. Defending champions Odisha were narrowly defeated by Bihar in a thrilling final, with the scoreline reading 15-17 in favor of Bihar.
Odisha had a strong run leading up to the final. In the semi-final, they convincingly defeated Delhi 22-0, and in the quarterfinals, they crushed Telangana 59-0. Their entry into the quarterfinals was secured by a 31-0 win over Assam.. During the league stage, Odisha was placed in Pool-A alongside Assam and Tamil Nadu, beating Tamil Nadu 56-0 and Assam 34-7.
The tournament featured 27 teams divided into nine groups from across India, showcasing intense competition. Odisha’s squad included players like Bidyadhar Majhi, Charan Hembram, Rahul Majhi, and others, with Dhiren Kumar Rout as coach, Muna Murmu as manager, and Arjun Singh as physio.
The final against Bihar was a close contest, with Bihar edging out Odisha by two points to retain their title. This match was a repeat of previous encounters where Bihar had also bested Odisha in junior rugby competitions.
In summary, Odisha demonstrated strong performance throughout the championship but fell just short in the final, securing a commendable second place behind Bihar.
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