After a grueling camp that lasted two months, the junior and senior rugby teams from Bengal are all set to face-off against the rest of the best at the National Rugby 7s Championship 2021, to be held at Bhubaneswar. While the Juniors’ competition is scheduled from December 10 to 12, the Seniors’ leg will commence on December 17, and conclude on December 19.
The teams have undergone an intense two-month camp in preparation for the journey
Following an intense practice session, the boys’ and girls’ teams were presented with their kits on December 7, at the Crows Field on the Maidan. “We have done fairly well in getting the players out after a long pandemic. Our distinct advantage has been due to two NGOs — Future Hope and Jungle Crows — who have been playing within their confines throughout this time,” said Lav Jhingan, president of the Bengal Rugby-Football Union.
Lav Jhingan, president of the Bengal Rugby-Football Union (left), discussing strategy with Union secretary, Mokhtar Alam
Both the junior teams are defending champions, having clinched the gold medal at the 2019 tournament in Chandigarh. “It was especially difficult to get the seniors back in shape, as many of them are working and have not trained for over a year-and-half. We are very confident with our juniors, who are constantly playing a sport as they are still in school,” added Mokhtar Alam, secretary of the Bengal Rugby-Football Union.
Sanjay Patra, coach of the boys’ team, was behind the team’s victory in 2019, and now hopes for a double
Sanjay Patra, head coach of the boys’ team and also the Future Hope team, guided the youngsters to their victory in 2019. “On the first day of camp, we had 70 boys turn up, from which we have eventually cut down to 12 players, who will be representing the state. It was a tough two years for the boys, but they have great game sense. Our advantage is not the size of our players, but their skills, fitness and speed,” he said.
Sheikh Badal (centre), captain of the boys’ team, could be seen pushing his players to give it their all
Leading the team is 17-year-old Sheikh Badal, a student of Indian Institute of Hotel Management and Culinary Arts, Hyderabad. “I’m very proud to have been selected to captain the team. We are working very hard, and the focus is to be crowned champions again. We are excited to execute all that we have learnt during our training,” he smiled.
Arjun Mahato showed promise as the youngest player of the boys’ team
All of 16, Arjun Mahato is a key cog in the team, despite being the youngest. “This is my first time representing Bengal, and I want to give it my best. The goal isn’t just to take the team forward, but to win again,” said the Class XI student of Alipore Takshal Vidyapith.
Having already guided the girls’ team to three consecutive trophies, coach Roshan Xaxa is greatly respected by his pupils
Coach of the girls’ team, Roshan Xaxa, carries a huge responsibility on his shoulders: continuing the team’s three-year winning streak. However, Xaxa isn’t letting the expectations weigh him down. “We were only away from rugby for a month during the first lockdown and promptly resumed practice in Saraswatipur (near Jalpaiguri). In order to minimise risk, we even restricted our movements to within the village. This is the reason behind the girls building on their fitness and skill,” smiled the Jungle Crows coach.
Barsha Oraon, captain of the girls’ team, had her sights set on retaining the title
On the field, it will be down to Barsha Oraon, who has been entrusted with the captain’s duties. “As it has been two years since the last tournament, half our team is new. I have made many new friends on this journey, and our dream is to take Bengal’s name even higher,” said the Class XII student of Gazoldoba High School.
Sonali Oraon is a player to look out for, after representing India at the Asia Rugby U-18 Girls Rugby 7s Championship 2021 earlier this year
Apart from being the youngest member of the team, Sonali Oraon, 16, was part of the silver-winning Indian team in the Asia Rugby U-18 Girls Rugby 7s Championship 2021, held at Uzbekistan in September. Her excitement at the prospect of representing Bengal for the first time was palpable: “I want to make our seniors proud. They taught us so much and left a rich legacy to follow. My only goal is to give my best.”
“I’ll be going to Bhubaneshwar to hopefully shout with them, and not at them during the tournament,” chuckled Paul Walsh, founder of Jungle Crows
Paul Walsh, founder of Jungle Crows, could be seen encouraging the players from the sidelines. More than a dozen of the 24 junior team qualifiers have emerged from his foundation. “The teams look good, and we’ve worked really hard at this camp to help them perform their best,” he said.
You can show your support to the teams, and follow their journey at Bengal Rugby-Football Union’s official Instagram handle.