CM opens Asia Rugby Girls Championship; India wins opening match

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday opened inaugurated Asia Rugby Sevens’ U-18 Girls Championship at Kalinga Stadium here last evening.

In the opening match yesterday, team India won the match against UAE by 22-5. Five players from Odisha-Sumitra Nayak, Soni Mandangi, Jemamani Naik, Lija Sardar and Parbati Kisku were in the team India.

Total 12 countries, including Hong Kong, China, UAE, Philippines, Laos, Qatar, Nepal, Bangladesh and Thailand have participated in the tournament. The teams are divided in three pools.

After inaugurating, CM Naveen said, “This is yet another historic event as this championship is the first ever International Age Rugby Tournament to be hosted in India. Being hosted ahead of the Men’s Hockey World Cup, this event is going to set the sporting spirit of the city soaring.”

On the occasion, Patnaik felicitated 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Swapna Barman.