Mumbai / Hangzhou, September 21, 2025: India’s Senior Women’s Rugby Sevens team made a strong mark in their debut at the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series (ARESS) 2025, finishing 6th in Leg 1 at Hangzhou, China.
Competing on Asia’s premier Rugby Sevens Stage for the first time, the Indian side – ranked 10th entering the tournament – impressed with skill, resilience, and determination. Wins against the Philippines (24-5) and UAE (19-12) showcased the team’s ability to perform under pressure, while their close 10-17 contest against Kazakhstan in the 5th place playoff highlighted just how competitive they have become.
Led by captain Shikha Yadav and featuring a mix of experienced players and exciting debutants, the squad demonstrated the growing depth of women’s rugby in India. Sandhyarani Tudu emerged as India’s top scorer of the tournament with 4 tries and 2 conversions, underlining her match-winning impact.
The jump from 10th seed to a top-six finish reflects the rapid progress of the team and signals India’s rising competitiveness in Asian women’s rugby.
Paul Delport, Head Coach of the Senior Women’s Team, said: “Our debut at ARESS has been extremely encouraging. To move from a 10th seed to finishing 6th shows how much belief and determination this group has. Every player contributed, and they leave Hangzhou stronger and more confident for the future.”
Rahul Bose, President, Indian Rugby Football Union shared his thoughts, saying, “This campaign is a clear statement about the quality and potential of Indian women’s rugby. The Senior Women have made a notable impact on the continental stage, and this performance sets the tone for continued progress. While we are well aware there is a second leg to be played in Colombo and points will be cumulatively calculated to ascertain final rankings, the first leg has signalled the positive, upward direction of Indian Women’s 7s rugby.”
Results Summary – ARESS 2025 (Hangzhou)
India 0-29 Hong Kong China
India 0-27 Thailand
India 24-5 Philippines
India 19-12 UAE
India 10-17 Kazakhstan
India now head into Leg 2 of ARESS in Colombo on 18-19 October on a confident note, ready to build on their strong showing in Hangzhou.