Colombo, October 18, 2025: India’s Senior Women’s Rugby Sevens Team produced an impressive display on Day 1 of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series (ARESS) 2025 – Leg 2, in Colombo, Sri Lanka – recording two emphatic wins from three matches to strengthen their standing in Asia’s premier rugby sevens competition.
The day began with a hard-fought 17-7 victory over the UAE, where India’s resilience shone through in a physical contest. Bhumika Shukla gave India an early lead before UAE clawed their way back to wrestle the advantage. India, however, showed composure and determination, with Bhumika scoring again and Kalyani Patil sealing the result late in the match to ensure a confident start to their campaign.
In their second encounter, the team delivered a clinical performance to outclass Indonesia 50-0, marking one of their most dominant displays at the continental level. Captain Shikha Yadav set the tone with the opening try and added another later in the match. Kalyani Patil and Nirmalya Rout each crossed the line twice, while Sandhyarani Tudu and Dumuni Marndi also added their names to the scoresheet. Sandhya Rai and Tarulata Naik contributed with two conversions apiece, rounding off a complete team performance built on pace, precision, and relentless attacking pressure.
The final pool fixture saw India take on top seed Japan, the winners of Leg 1 in Hangzhou. Despite a spirited effort, India were outplayed by the tournament favourites, going down 0-43.
For Paul Delport’s side to qualify for the semi-finals, the team needed to finish as the best second-placed side. However, despite Thailand’s 17-5 win over Hong Kong China, the result proved insufficient to alter the standings – with Hong Kong China advancing on superior points difference.
India will now face Singapore at 10:44 a.m. in the 5th-8th place playoff. A win there would set up a repeat opportunity to compete for 5th-6th place as they look to finish the tournament on a high.
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Results – Day 1 (Pool D):
India 17-7 UAE
India 50-0 Indonesia
India 0-43 Japan
Next Fixture:
India vs Singapore – 10:44 am (5th-8th Place Playoff)
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