Colombo, Sri Lanka : India’s Senior Women’s Rugby Sevens Team created history at the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series (ARESS) 2026, securing a fifth-place finish in the second round in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The team registered landmark victories, including its first-ever win against Thailand and recorded four wins in a single edition of the Series for the first time.
Under head coach Paul Delport, the Indian women delivered a determined performance against established Asian opponents, ending their Colombo campaign with consecutive victories on the second day.
India defeated the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 21-12 before overcoming fourth-ranked Thailand 19-12. The victory over Thailand marked a significant breakthrough for Indian women’s rugby and underlined the team’s growing competitiveness on the continental stage.
Historic Win Against Thailand Highlights India’s Progress
India’s fifth-place finish in Colombo was the result of a campaign that combined resilience with several historic achievements. The team’s victory over Thailand was particularly significant, as India had never previously beaten the South-East Asian side.
Head coach Paul Delport praised the players for their performance and commitment.
“I’m incredibly proud of the way the girls performed in Colombo. Finishing fifth and securing our first-ever win against Thailand are significant achievements for this group,” Delport said.
He added that the team had demonstrated its ability to compete with established sides across Asia, while emphasising that there was still considerable scope for improvement.
The Indian women also achieved a milestone on the opening day of the group stage when Shikha Yadav scored the team’s first-ever try against Japan’s Senior Women’s Team. Although India suffered defeats against Japan and Hong Kong China, the campaign represented another important step forward for the side.
Rahul Bose Hails Historic Performance
Rahul Bose, President of the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU), described the result as a historic moment for Indian rugby and praised the players for their determination.
“This is a historic day for Indian rugby. Team sport is a hard grind. Many times, the ultimate ranking doesn’t do justice to a team’s performance. This time it has,” Bose said.
He added that the Indian women deserved their top-five finish in Colombo, highlighting their fighting spirit and refusal to give up.
Bose also expressed gratitude to the stakeholders supporting Indian rugby, including the Ministry of Sports and the team’s sponsors. He said the federation would continue working to create the conditions necessary for players to perform at their best.
India Finish Sixth Overall in the 2026 Series
India’s fifth-place finish in the Colombo round earned the women’s team 12 points. Combined with the 10 points collected during the opening round in Suzhou, China, the team finished the 2026 Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series with 22 points, securing sixth place in the overall standings.
Shikha Yadav emerged as India’s leading try-scorer in Colombo with four tries. Kalyani Patil and Mama Naik contributed two tries each.
In the conversion tally, Parbati Hansdah led the Indian side with four successful conversions, while Bhumika Shukla added two.
The results reflect the team’s progress as Indian women’s rugby continues to build experience and challenge established opponents in Asia.
Indian Men Finish Colombo Campaign with Victory
India’s Senior Men’s Rugby Sevens Team finished 11th in the Colombo round after recording one victory in six matches.
The men concluded their campaign on a positive note, defeating Uzbekistan 29-5 in their final match.
Despite finishing outside the top positions, the victory provided a winning end to India’s men’s campaign in the second round of the 2026 Series.
India Senior Women’s Team: Round 2 Results
- India 24-0 UAE
- India 5-33 Japan
- India 5-29 Hong Kong China
- India 21-12 UAE
- India 19-12 Thailand
India Senior Men’s Team: Round 2 Results
- India 20-0 Iran (Bye, as listed in the supplied results)
- India 0-33 Hong Kong China
- India 5-28 UAE
- India 19-26 Sri Lanka
- India 14-24 Kazakhstan
- India 7-26 Singapore
- India 29-5 Uzbekistan
India’s historic win over Thailand and fifth-place finish in Colombo mark an encouraging chapter for the women’s team, providing a strong platform for future international competitions.
