Odisha Beat Maharashtra to Clinch Junior National Rugby 7s Girls’ Title

Hyderabad/Bhubaneswar: Odisha clinched the 11th Junior National Rugby 7s Championship (Girls) title after defeating Maharashtra 15-10 in a thrilling final at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad, reaffirming the state’s dominance in women’s rugby.

The victory marks Odisha’s second national title of the season, following its triumph at the Senior National Rugby 7s Championship 2026, highlighting the state’s strong pipeline of young rugby talent.

Odisha made a confident start to the final, racing to a 10-0 lead through tries by Manisha Majhi and Ranjulata Naik. Maharashtra staged an impressive comeback after the break, scoring two quick tries to draw level at 10-10 and set up a tense finish.

With the championship hanging in the balance, Odisha capitalised on scrum possession to score the decisive try and seal a hard-fought 15-10 victory. The win also marked Odisha’s first Junior Girls’ national title since 2023, when it had similarly defeated Maharashtra in the final.

Earlier in the semi-finals, Odisha edged past defending champions Bihar 10-5 in a closely fought contest, while Maharashtra blanked West Bengal 24-0 to book its place in the summit clash. Bihar later defeated West Bengal 36-5 to finish third.

The championship showcased the rising standard of junior rugby in the country, with teams collectively scoring 1,853 points during the tournament. Bihar emerged as the highest-scoring side with 215 points, followed by Maharashtra (212) and Odisha (201). Odisha also impressed defensively, conceding only 15 points, jointly with Bihar, throughout the competition.

Ranjulata Naik played a pivotal role in Odisha’s title-winning campaign, finishing as the team’s highest scorer with 60 points, including 10 tries and five conversions. The tournament’s overall top scorer was Bhudiya Namrata Dinesh of Gujarat, who amassed 70 points through 14 tries.

The Junior National Rugby 7s Championship serves as an important platform for identifying and nurturing emerging rugby talent across the country. The focus will now shift to the Boys’ Championship, scheduled to be held at the same venue on July 10 and 11.