Indian Women's Rugby Team Prepares for Asian Games 2026 Amid Calls for Greater Recognition

Rugby India President Emphasizes Need for Major Victory

In Kolkata, Rugby India president Rahul Bose expressed that the sport requires a significant win on a global or Asian stage to garner more attention. The Indian senior women's Rugby Sevens team is gearing up with confidence for the upcoming Asian Games in 2026.

Bose noted that rugby has not yet captured the public's interest in India due to the absence of major tournament victories. He stated, "Rugby isn't in the spotlight yet because we haven't achieved a major victory in a tournament. That is the reality; why talk about popularity when we haven't earned it? We need to achieve something. Until we demonstrate success at the global or Asian level, it is natural that people won't pay attention," during the jersey launch event for the Indian Women’s Rugby Team ahead of the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

Team Optimism Ahead of Asian Games

Paul Delport, head coach of the Indian senior women's Rugby Sevens team, expressed optimism regarding their preparations, stating they are eager to face the top teams in Asia. "Very optimistic, very happy with the preparation, and we know that we are going into a very competitive Asian Games; we've put the work in. We understand what we want to get better at, what we want to improve on. We're really looking forward to testing ourselves against the best teams in Asia," Delport remarked.

Captain Shikha Yadav reflected on the advancements in Indian women's rugby throughout her career, particularly regarding facilities, nutrition, and financial backing. "I’ve been playing for India for 7 years, and I’ve served as captain for 3 of those. Overall, I’ve been playing rugby for 9 years... When I first started playing for India, we didn’t have many facilities or access to proper nutrition. But since Rahul Bose sir came on board, and especially since 2022, we’ve received funding for training camps," Yadav shared.

Rugby Premier League Offers New Opportunities

Yadav also highlighted the Rugby Premier League (RPL) as a significant opportunity for players from underprivileged backgrounds to consider rugby as a career. "Recently, the RPL took place, providing a vital opportunity for girls from less affluent backgrounds to see rugby as a viable career path. Many players on our team have secured jobs through both state and central governments. So, I believe rugby is growing, perhaps not at breakneck speed, but fast enough to be considered a genuine career option," she added.

Rugby India has officially announced the Senior Women’s Rugby Sevens Team that will represent the nation at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, scheduled for October 1-3 in Nagoya, Japan.

Upcoming Competition Details

The 13-member squad will compete in the Women’s Rugby Sevens event at the Paloma Mizuho Rugby Stadium, where India is placed in Pool B alongside defending champions China, Hong Kong, China, and Malaysia.

The Asian Games represent a significant milestone for India’s Women’s Rugby Sevens program. The team made its debut in Women’s Rugby Sevens at the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games but missed the 2014 and 2018 editions. They returned at Hangzhou 2022, finishing in seventh place.

Indian Women’s Rugby Sevens Squad: Shikha Yadav (C), Dumuni Marndi (VC), Amandeep Kaur, Arti Kumari, Bhumika Shukla, Vaishnavi Patil, Guriya Kumari, Kalyani Patil, Mama Naik, Nirmalya Rout, Sandhya Rai, Sandhyarani Tudu, Ujjwala Ghuge.