India to compete in the Asia Men’s Rugby Sevens Trophy at Doha

Rugby India reports that the Indian men’s Rugby team will compete in the Asia Men’s Rugby Sevens Trophy 2017 to be held at Aspire Rugby Field, Doha, Qatar from Friday 3rd March & Saturday 4th March, 2017. The team will participate under the aegis of the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the governing body for the sport of Rugby in India and is supported by Societe Generale, the financial partner of Rugby India

A total of 11 countries from across Asia including Singapore, Pakistan, Jordan, Philippines, Nepal, UAE, India, Thailand, Iran, Bangladesh and the host Qatar will vie for top honours in the Asia Men’s Rugby Sevens Trophy 2017. The winner of this men’s tournament in Doha will win a place for their union to participate in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series, which will feature three legs and will be played between 1st September to 14th October, 2017.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Mahesh Mathai, Secretary General, Rugby India said, “Recently the Indian Women’s Rugby team shined at the Asia Women’s rugby Sevens trophy held at Laos and brought home a silver. We are thankful to the honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi for acknowledging and applauding this effort of the women’s team in ‘Man ki Baat’, DD and Akashvani that aired across the country. We are confident that the Men’s team also will deliver fabulous performance to bring home accolades and make us proud yet again”.

“Our Financial partner Societe Generale is also contributing immensely to our efforts of developing the sport across all age groups. Such support and recognition gives all passionate players some much-needed encouragement and push,” he added.

The players shortlisted to join the Indian National Training Camp were selected during the Federation Cup Rugby Sevens Championship 2016 held on 28th and 29th January 2017 at the Biju Patnaik Sports Complex, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. Post the Federation Cup, the Men’s Team training & selection camp was held at Sports Complex in Pooth Kalan, Delhi from 13th February to 1st March 2017.

The following 12 players and 4 officials are selected from across India to represent the nation at Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy 2017, Doha, Qatar.

(1) Gautam Dagar (Captain), (2) Nitin Dagar, (3) Deepak Punia, (4) Rakesh Lochab (5) Deepak Dagar (from Delhi) (6) Vikas Khatri, (7) Prince Khatri, (8) Mohit Khatri, (9) Neeraj Khatri (From Haryana), (10) Akash Balmiki (from West Bengal), (11) Chhitaranjan Murmu( from Odisha) and (12) Samser Singh( from Maharashtra ). Officials – Mr Sendil Kumar (Coach), Mr Subhash Kumar Solanki (Assistant Coach), Mr Wahid Pathan (Physio) and Mr Manas Kumar Jena (Team Manager)