Odisha’s Sumitra Nayak to represent country at Asia Rugby Unstoppable campaign

Bhubaneswar: Odisha-based Rugby star Sumitra Nayak has been selected to represent India at Asia Rugby Unstoppable campaign.

She is among three Rugby stars to have found place in the list for the upcoming sports event.

Yesterday, Rugby India had announced the names of three unstoppable women in Rugby who will represent the country at Asia Rugby Unstoppable campaign.

Along with Sumitra Nayak from Odisha, Rugby players Sandhya Rai of West Bengal and Vahbiz of Maharashtra have made it to the list to participate in the event.

Expressing pleasure over selection of Odia Rugby player for the sports campaign, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik congratulated Sumitra on a microblogging site today.

Congratulate Odisha’s rugby star Sumitra Nayak on being selected to represent #India at the @asiarugby #Unstoppable campaign. Wish @RugbyIndia all the best for it. #WomenInRugby https://t.co/fi98wUMbUT

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) September 20, 2020

Last year, Sumitra had secured her first international success at Asia Women’s Rugby Championship. Her final penalty kick against Singapore had helped Indian Rugby team to win the bronze medal at Asia Women’s Division 1 XVs Championship fixture held at Manila on June 22, 2019.

Hailing from Jajpur district of Odisha, Sumitra was among 10 Indian kids nominated for International Children’s Peace Prize 2017. She was fascinated towards rugby when she was enrolled in Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) in 2008. She started practice next year. Under the guidance of coach Rudrakesh Jena, Sumitra had played her first State match in 2012. Later, she participated in the National Championship, the National School Games and the U-13 Women’s Rugby World Cup. She had helped her team win bronze in the Asian Girls Rugby Sevens (U-18) held in Dubai in 2016. She had also led Under-18 India women’s rugby team.