First-Ever Medal on Home Soil
India’s U-20 women’s rugby team achieved a historic feat by winning the bronze medal at the Asia Rugby Emirates U-20 Sevens Championship on Sunday, defeating Uzbekistan 12–5 in the third-place playoff at the Rajgir International Sports Complex, Bihar.
Early Lead and Strong Defence Seal Victory
Captain Bhumika Shukla opened the scoring to give India an early lead, and Guriya Kumari’s try extended the advantage to 12–0. Uzbekistan pulled one back, but India’s solid defence held firm to secure the podium finish.
Strong Pool Stage Performances
India started their campaign with a 17–10 win over Kazakhstan, followed by a dominant 31–7 victory against the United Arab Emirates. Captain Bhumika Shukla scored twice in the UAE match, while Vice-Captain Tanushree Bhosale added another try.
Their only pool stage loss came against Hong Kong China, a 7–31 defeat, which did not stop them from progressing to the semi-finals.
Semi-Final Challenge Against Favourites
In the semi-finals, India faced tournament favourites China and were beaten 7–28, moving them into the bronze-medal match. Across the tournament, India’s only defeats came against the eventual finalists — China and Hong Kong China — underlining their competitiveness against Asia’s top sides.
Praise from Coach and Rugby India President
Head coach Kiano Fourie commended the squad’s effort and determination, while skipper Bhumika Shukla emerged as one of India’s standout performers, finishing with multiple tries in the tournament.
Rugby India President Rahul Bose celebrated the achievement, saying:
“Winning a medal in front of our home fans is a proud moment for Indian rugby. Our women were in a very difficult pool, and to make the semi-finals was an achievement in itself. The team showed tremendous spirit, and this performance will inspire the next generation of players.”
Tournament Highlights and Growing Rugby Presence
The championship marked the first time the Asia Rugby Emirates U-20 Sevens was hosted in India. The bronze medal is the U-20 women’s team’s first podium finish on home soil. China won the women’s title, defeating Hong Kong China in the final, while Hong Kong China claimed the men’s crown, beating Sri Lanka 33–0.
The tournament showcased promising Indian talents such as Guriya Kumari, Anshu Kumari, Alpana Kumari, Tanushree Bhosale, Muskan Piploda, and Bhumika Shukla, highlighting rugby’s growing presence in non-metro regions.
With the future of rugby in safe hands, this result could mark the beginning of a larger transformation for the sport in India.
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Yash Desai is a renowned journalist with over 10+ years of experience covering sports around the world. He began his career as a News Reporter in Delhi, India, and got an opportunity to cover several World events, including the Olympics, Paralympics, and World Games. He often felt that women’s sports are sidelined and given step-motherly treatment by the mainstream media. To bridge this gap and to build an equal playing field, Yash co-founded FemaleInSports and is currently working as a Lead Editor here.
