Golden glory: Himachal’s young rugby stars shine nationally

Himachal Pradesh has earned glory at the national stage after a group of young girls from a remote village of Sirmaur district secured the gold medal in the junior under-18 category of the Khelo India Rugby Asmita League held in Uttarakhand.

The final, played at Roshanabad Stadium in Haridwar, saw CRC Himachal’s team dominate their rivals NGA Uttarakhand from the very beginning. Captain Sneha, along with her teammates Ankita, Mahak, Joya, Ritika, Komal, Ashu and Nandita, displayed excellent coordination and determination on the field. Their aggressive play left no room for the opposition to recover, sealing a convincing 15-0 victory that brought them both the gold medal and the championship trophy.

What makes this achievement truly remarkable is that every member of the winning team hails from Kotdi Vyas, a small village in Paonta Sahib subdivision of Sirmaur. Despite coming from a modest background, the girls’ perseverance and passion for the sport have brought laurels to the entire state.

Coach Sudhir and team manager Ruby credited the players’ hard work and discipline for this triumph, while KB Club coach and physical education teacher Dharamender Chaudhary extended his congratulations to the players, coach and manager. He emphasised that the success of these daughters of Kotdi Vyas will inspire many youngsters across Himachal Pradesh to take up sports with dedication and courage.