10th Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship Kicks Off at Kalinga Stadium

Bhubaneswar: The 10th Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship–2025 began on a vibrant note at the iconic Kalinga Stadium here on Thursday, marking another major milestone in Odisha’s growing sporting legacy. The tournament is being jointly organised by the Department of Sports and Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha, Rugby India, and the Odisha State Rugby Association.

The championship was formally inaugurated by the Minister for Sports and Youth Services, Suryabanshi Suraj, who attended the event as the Chief Guest. The opening ceremony set an energetic tone, celebrating youth, teamwork and sporting excellence.

A key highlight of the ceremony was the ceremonial procession, during which Dumuni Marndi, star player and Vice-Captain of the Indian National Rugby Team, carried the championship trophy onto the field. She was followed by the captains of all 24 participating states, symbolising unity, discipline and competitive spirit. Upholding tradition, the captain of the host state Odisha entered the field last. On the occasion, Shri Gerald Prabhu, Secretary of the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), felicitated the Sports Minister.

Several senior officials were present at the inaugural event, including Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, DSYS; Dr. Yedulla Vijay, Director of Sports; Ashok Kumar Panda and Bijay Kumar Swain, Additional Secretaries, DSYS; and Upendra Mohanty, Vice President, Odisha Rugby Football Association.

The competition commenced with the Under-15 Girls’ category, and Day One witnessed dominant performances from teams such as Odisha, Maharashtra and Bihar during the group stages. The matches attracted a crowd of over 2,000 spectators, reflecting the rising popularity of rugby in the state.

Host team Odisha delivered an emphatic performance in Pool-D, registering convincing victories over Uttar Pradesh (35–0) and Rajasthan (28–0). Remaining unbeaten on the opening day, the Odisha girls impressed with their disciplined attacking play and solid defence, significantly boosting team morale as they eye the championship title.

Defending champions Maharashtra asserted their strength in Pool-A with wins over Assam (33–0) and Jammu & Kashmir (40–0), while last year’s runners-up Bihar dominated Pool-B, defeating Jharkhand (67–0) and Manipur (64–0). Delhi emerged as the front-runner in Pool-C after victories against Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Teams from West Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh also secured important wins in their respective pools.

The championship features more than 550 athletes under the age of 15 from 24 states across the country. The Girls’ Championship will be held from January 16 to 17, followed by the Boys’ Championship from January 20 to 21.

The Government of Odisha has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure world-class hospitality, accommodation and tight security for all participating players and officials. With consistent efforts in grassroots development and regular contribution of players to the national squad, Odisha continues to strengthen its position as a key pillar of India’s rugby ecosystem and a prominent hub for sporting excellence.