Indian womens team, featuring two players from Odisha, won the bronze medal in the Asia U-20 Rugby Sevens Championship, defeating Uzbekistan 12-5 in the third-place playoff match at Rajgir International Sports Complex in Rajgir, Bihar today. The two Odisha players were: Mamali Singh and Ritu Majhi.

China women emerged champions, getting the better of Hong Kong China in the final 31-14. Hong Kong China won the mens title, trouncing Sri Lanka 33-0 in the final. Malaysia men secured the bronze medal, defeating China 19-7. 

India U-20 women team played the bronze-medal match after losing to China 7-28 in semifinals. Earlier at the league stage, Indian women beat Kazakhstan 17-10 and United Arab Emirates 31-7, but lost to Hong Kong China 7-31 in Pool-D.

Indian U-20 men team, also featuring two players from Odisha (Bharat Kisan and Charan Hembram) finished sixth, losing to United Arab Emirates 19-21. Earlier, in their three Pool-A league matches, India beat UAE 24-17, lost to Sri Lanka 5-24 and to Hong Kong China 5-24.

Later in the battle for the fifth to eighth positions, India defeated Kazakhstan 24-19. A total of 16 teams, eight mens and eight women teams, participated in the two-day championship.

INDIA U-20 MEN (12): Sumit Kumar Roy (Captain), Karan Rajbhar (Vice-Captain), Ajit Nag, Bharat Kisan, Charan Hembram, David Munda, Deshraj Singh, Goldan Kumar, Rajan Rawat, Rohit Shaw, Sagar Prakash, Shivam. Head Coach: Francisco Hernandez.

INDIA U-20 MEN (12): Bhumika Shukla (Captain), Tanushree Bhosale (Vice-Captain), Aarati Kumari, Akshaya NS, Alpana Kumari, Anshu Kumari, Guriya Kumari, Kyra Vincent, Mahak, Mamali Singh, Muskan Piploda, Ritu Majhi. Head Coach: Kiano Fourie.
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PHOTO: Odisha players (L-R) Bharat Kisan, Charan Hembram, Ritu Majhi and Mamali Singh pose after getting selected to represent India in the Asia U-20 Rugby Sevens Championship 2025.