Rugby team for Asia Seven C’ship announced

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 1

Four rugby players from Haryana have been selected to represent India in the Asia Men's Rugby Sevens Trophy, to be held in Doha.

Haryana’s Vikas Khatri, Prince Khatri, Mohit Khatri and Neeraj Khatri have been named in the squad. The tournament will be held at the Aspire Rugby Field, Doha (Qatar) on March 3-4. The team will participate under the aegis of the Indian Rugby Football Union, the governing body for the sport in India.A total of 11 countries from across Asia — including Singapore, Pakistan, Jordan, Philippines, Nepal, UAE, India, Thailand, Iran, Bangladesh and the hosts Qatar — will compete in the tournament. The winner of this tournament will win a place for their union to participate in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series, which will feature three legs, from September 1 to October 14. "Recently the Indian women’s team shone at the Asia Women’s Rugby Sevens Trophy and brought home a silver,” said Mahesh Mathai, Secretary General of Rugby India. “We are confident that the men’s team also will deliver a fabulous performance.” The players were selected during the Federation Cup Rugby Sevens Championship, held on January 28-29 at Utkal University in Bhubaneswar. The selection camp was held at the Sport Complex in Pooth Kalan, Delhi, from February 13 to March 1.

Squad 

Gautam Dagar (Captain), Nitin Dagar, Deepak Punia, Rakesh Lochab, Deepak Dagar, Vikas Khatri, Prince Khatri, Mohit Khatri, Neeraj Khatri, Akash Balmiki, Chittaranjan Murmu, Samser Singh; Coaching staff: Sendil Kumar (coach), Subhash Kumar Solanki (assistant coach), Wahid Pathan (physio), and Manas Kumar Jena (manager).