Odisha U-18 boys team won the gold medal in the Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship, defeating Rajasthan 10-5 in the thrilling final at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, Maharashtra today. Earlier in the semifinals, Odisha edged out Bihar 17-7, while Rajasthan got the better of Maharashtra 28-5.

A total of 27 teams participated in the two-day championship. A 12-member Odisha team won five matches in a row before being crowned as champions.

Placed in Pool C at the league stage, Odisha mauled Assam 48-0 and Tamil Nadu 58-0 to storm in the quarterfinals, where they thrashed Kerala 29-0. Odisha Rugby Football Association secretary Upendra Kumar Mohanty congratulated the State team for their title triumph.

ODISHA U-18 BOYS TEAM: Pradeep Kanhar, Bharat Kisan, Lakhan Hembram, Charan Hembram, Bidyadhar Majhi, Suhan Kumar Pradhan, Rahul Majhi, Attma Murmu, Simal Baskey, Chinmaya Kumar Naik, Eswar Pujari, Nirmal Pradhan. Coach: J Sushil Hembram; Manager: Sunaram Kisku.

ODISHA RESULTS:

25 June 2024:
Match 1 (Poo-C League): Odisha (Lakhan Hembram 16, Bharat Kisan 10, Attma Murmu 10, Charan Hembram 7, Eswar Pujari 5) beat Assam 48-0.
Match 2 (Poo-C League): Odisha (Charan Hembram 17, Bharat Kisan 14, Lakhan Hembram 10, Attma Murmu 7, Bidyadhar Majhi 5, Pradeep Kanhar 5) beat Tamil Nadu 58-0.
26 June 2024:
Match 3 (Quarterfinal): Odsha (Lakhan Hembram 10, Bharat Kisan 10, Bidyadhar Majhi 5, Charan Hembram 4) beat Kerala 29-0.
Match 4 (Semifinals): Odisha beat Bihar 17-7.
Match 5 (Final): Odisha beat Rajasthan 10-5.
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PHOTO: Odisha boys team celebrates with Junior National Rugby 7s champions trophy in Pune on 26 June 2024.