Indian women team, featuring three players from Odisha, settled for the silver medal in the Asia Rugby Seven Trophy when they lost to Singapore 5-17 in the final at GBK Rugby Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia today. The three Odisha players were: Hupi Majhi, Dumuni Marndi and Tarulata Naik.

Earlier in their three league matches in Group B, Indian women beat Mangolia 39-0, Guam 26-21 and UAE 21-0 to advance to the semifinals, where they fought back from 5-12 down to beat host Indonesia 17-12.

But the Indian men team consisting of one player from Odisha finished ninth in the two-day tournament. The lone Odisha player was Shanawaz Ahmed. Indian men failed to qualify for quarterfinals as they lost both of their league matchces in Group D.

Indian men lost to Jordan 12-14 and to Afghanistan 7-27. In the 9th place play-off competition, Indian men won all three of their matches, beating Iran 20-0 (walk-over), Brunei 39-7 and Pakistan 12-5.
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PHOTO: Odisha trio (L-R) Tarulata Naik, Hupi Majhi and Dumuni Marndi with their silver medal at the Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy in Jakarta, Indonesia on 7 August 2022.