Three Maharashtra Girls Shine in the Indian U20 Girls Rugby Team
Pune: 2nd August 2017: Asia Rugby is hosting the Asia Rugby U20 Girls Rugby 7s Championship, to be held in Hong Kong, China on 4th & 5th August 2017. The Indian U20 Girls rugby team is supported by Societe Generale, the financial partner of Rugby India and is participating under the aegis of the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the governing body for the sport of Rugby in India.
Basis Maharashtra State performance in the Federation Cup Rugby Sevens held in Bhubaneswar in January 2017 and Pre Training camp held Kolkata in May 2017. Three Girls from Maharashtra, Neelam Patil (Kolhapur), Ruchi Shetty and Gargi Walekar (Mumbai Suburban) were selected to be a part of the Indian U20 Girls team that will ultimately represent the nation at Asia U-20 Girls Rugby 7s Championship in Hong Kong, China.
A total of seven countries from across Asia including China, Thailand, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Singapore, India and hosts Hong Kong will fight the battle to claim victory in this championship.
The Rugby Association of Maharashtra (RAM) in conjunction with The Rugby Association of Maharashtra (RAM) in conjunction with Indian Rugby football Union have conducted a rigorous training camp at Bombay Gymkhana Ground from last three weeks. This power packed Indian Girls team will leave for Hong Kong, China on Wednesday, 2nd August 2017.
Speaking at this proud occasion, Sandeep Mosamkar, Joint Secretary, RAM said “It is extremely exciting and encouraging to see that Rugby is growing tremulously in Maharashtra. Currently 32 districts are actively playing competitive rugby in Maharashtra. All this progress could not have been possible without the humble support of Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Maharashtra and Maharashtra Olympic Association.”
Names of Maharashtra’s Girls Rugby players selected in the Indian U20 Rugby squad participating in the Asia U-20 Girls Rugby 7s Championship in Hong Kong, China
1) Ruchi Shetty – Captain (Maharashtra)
2) Gargee Walekar (Maharashtra)
3) Neelam Patil (Maharashtra)
About RAM:
The Rugby Association of Maharashtra (RAM) is recognised by the Directorate of sports and youth services, Govt. of Maharashtra and is a member of the Maharashtra Olympic Association (MOA) and The Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) – the sole governing body for the Sports of Rugby in India. The IRFU is recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sport, Govt. of India and is a member of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Asia Rugby & World Rugby.
Currently 32 Districts Rugby Associations are actively playing / promoting Rugby in Maharashtra and are registered and affiliated with the Rugby Association of Maharashtra (RAM). The affiliated districts associations are, Gondia, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Wardha, Akola, Buldhana, Washim, Bid, Parbhani, Nanded, Auranabad, Hingoli, Osmanabad, Latur, Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Nashik, Satara, Solapur, Sangali, Kolhapur, Yavatmal, Dhule, Palghar, Amaravati, Ratnagiri, Raigadh, Thane, Pune, Mumbai Suburban & Mumbai.
Maharashtra Men’s Rugby team won Gold Medal in the Rugby Sevens’ discipline at the 33rd and 34th National Games of India held at Guwahati 2007 & Ranchi in 2011 respectively. Maharashtra Women’s Rugby team Won Silver and the Men’s Rugby team secured Bronze in the Rugby Sevens’ discipline at the 35th National Games of India held in 2015, Kerala. Apart of these, Maharashtra’s Under 14 Boys won gold and and Girls secured Silver in the IRFU’s Sub- Junior National Touch –Rugby tournament held in Gujarat on January 2017.
