Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 27: Orissa women’s rugby team, who emerged champions in the recently concluded Senior National Rugby 7s Championships at Patna returned home, Monday. They were given a grand welcome at the Bhubaneswar Railway Station by the Orissa Rugby Association officials. The men’s team, which finished sixth, also returned with the women’s team.
Women’s team coach Dhiren Kumar Rout gave all the credit to the players for their stellar show. “We were no doubt favourites in the tournament. But the way the team put up a dominating show throughout the event was incredible,” he stated.
Skipper Bhagyalaxmi Barik hailed the performance of her teammates. “The coordination between our players was fantastic. We played attacking rugby and that really paid off,” she stated. “We had practiced very hard and prepared well for the tournament. Because of our hard work we were successful,” she concluded.
Poor batting
Orissa were bowled out for 195 in their first innings after electing to bat against KSCA XI in a match of the All India K Thimmappiah cricket tournament in Bangalore, Monday. In reply the hosts were 66 without loss.
Except for Anurag Sarangi (55, 115b, 7×4, 2×6), none of the other Orissa batsmen could get going. Openers Rajesh Dhupar (30) and Girija Rout (22) put on 56 runs for the opening stand, but after their departure wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals. J Suchith (4/71) and Pavan Deshpande (3/35) did the bulk of the damage for KSCA XI with some incisive bowling.