This is for the first time that any rugby sevens team from India has made it to the Asian Games. On Wednesday, Rugby India announced the final squad for the tournament which is starting from September 23 in Hangzhou, China. The team will be led by Sheetal Sharma, while Sandhya Rai will be her deputy for the Asian Games 2023.
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“At the end of this 50-day camp, Rugby India can confidently say this is the best-prepared squad of athletes we have. We owe it all to our coaching staff who have prepared our players mentally, physically, and psychologically for this unique opportunity. Our only wish is that the country gets behind our women. Let us all be the wind beneath their wings,” said Rahul Bose, President – Indian Rugby Football Union, at the team announcement ceremony.
“We as an entire team carry the hopes of the country, which will become our greatest strength at the Asian Games. No matter the opposition, we have been taught to never take a step back. We are ready to take on the competition and it will be a culmination of everything we have worked hard for in the camp over the last 40 days. The coaching has been brilliant and the facilities have been the best for any athlete training for a tournament of this calibre. We look forward to competing at the Asian Games.” Said Sheetal Sharma, captain of the Indian Rugby Team.
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India play their first match on September 24 against Hong Kong in the morning session and Japan in the afternoon session. Drawn in the F Pool with defending champions Japan, Hong Kong China, and Singapore. The Indian rugby team will have to qualify as one of the top two teams here to make it into the semi-final.
On the other hand, the Indian Rugby team in the men’s section could not qualify for the Asian Games 2023.
Indian Rugby Team for Asian Games 2023
Sweta Shahi, Sandhya Rai (Vice Captain), Mama Naik, Kalyani Patil, Vaishnavi Patil, Lachmi Oraon, Dumuni Marndi, Hupi Majhi, Shikha Yadav, Tarulata Naik, Sheetal Sharma (Captain), and Priya Bansal.
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