Rugby helped Odisha win two silver medals in the ongoing 7th Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) as both the U-18 girls and boys teams of the State finished runners-up, losing to host Bihar in the two finals at Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna today.
In the contrasting finals, Bihar girls demolished Odisha 27-0, while Bihar boys faced stiff fight before defeating Odisha 14-12. The two Odisha teams featured 12 players each.
Odisha boys beat Delhi 15-0 in semifinals and West Bengal 34-12 in quarterfinals. Earlier, Odisha men won all three of their Pool-B league matches, beating Delhi 10-7, Kerala 34-5 and Maharashtra 24-0.
Odisha girls blanked Maharashtra 32-0 in semifinals and Chhattisgarh 46-0 in quarterfinals. Earlier, Odisha women won all three of their Pool-B league matches, getting the better of West Bengal 46-0, Kerala 36-0 and Maharashtra 20-0.
ODISHA U-18 GIRLS TEAM: Basi Oram, Raimani Murmu, Mamali Singh, Sanjukta Bhumij, Sandhyarani Biswal, Namita Hembram, Ranjulata Naik, Barsharani Pradhan, Anita Murmu, Manisha Majhi, Sumitra Murmu, Mamata Murmu.
ODISHA U-18 BOYS TEAM: Charan Hembram, Bidyadhar Majhi, Bharat Kisan, Eswar Pujari, Suraja Kumar Dora, Rahul Majhi, Attma Murmu, Samir Mardi, Suhan Kumar Pradhan, Chinmaya Kumar Naik, Sumanta Murmu, Sadinsan Hansdah.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOTO: Players, coaches and support staff of Odisha U-18 boys and girls rugby teams pose after winning silver medals at the 7th Khelo India Youth Games in Patna on 9 May 2025.