Government of Odisha, in conjunction with Rugby India and other partners, today felicitated the Indian U-18 Girls Rugby team with cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for wining silver medal at the Asia Rugby U-18 Girls Rugby Sevens Championship held at Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 18 and 19 September 2021.

At the felicitation ceremony, which was held at Odisha State Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, the Government of Odisha, Rugby India and supporting partner Blade Urban Air Mobility (India) handed over cash rewards (ranging from 4 to 5 lakhs per partner) to the Indian U-18 Girls Rugby team and coaches for their stellar achievement.

The 15-member Indian team received a total cash reward of Rs 15 lakhs. Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera presented a cheque of Rs 5 lakh on behalf of the Odisha Government. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also applauded the efforts of the Indian U-18 girls team through a video message.

KIIT and KISS Founder Prof Achyuta Samanta, Odisha Sports Department Secretary R Vineel Krishna, Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) President Vikram Ahuja, Board member Rahul Bose and Odisha Rugby Football Association President Priyadarshi Mishra.

INDIAN U-18 GIRLS RUGBY TEAM: Anshika Chauhan (Captain), Nandini, Gomti (both Delhi); Tarulata Naik, Mama Naik, Nirmalya Rout (all Odisha); Chanel Crizzle (Goa); Arti Kumari, Sapna Kumari (both Bihar); Akanksha Anand Katkade, Vaishnavi Dattatray Patil, Lavanya Jagdish Adusumalli (all Maharashtra); Nikita Oraon, Sonali Oraon (both West Bengal). Coaches: Ludwiche Van Deventer, Hendrik ‘Naas’ Botha (both South Africa).