Strong performances across U15, U18 and Senior Women underline depth of women’s rugby pathway.
Bhubaneswar, Odisha | 1 February 2026: The inaugural edition of the ASMITA Rugby League – National concluded at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar, with Odisha securing championship titles across all three categories – Sub-Junior Girls (U15), Junior Girls (U18) and Senior Women – after an action-packed final day on Sunday.
The hosts completed a clean sweep across all three categories with victories over strong opposition. In the Sub-Junior Girls (U15) final, Odisha defeated Bihar 26-5, before backing it up with a commanding 29-0 win against Maharashtra in the Junior Girls (U18) final. The sweep was sealed in the Senior Women’s final, where Odisha overcame Bihar 36-5, completing a successful run across age groups at the inaugural ASMITA Rugby League – National.
The day began with placing matches for positions five to eight, followed by high-quality semi-finals that set the stage for decisive title encounters. In the Sub-Junior Girls (U15) semi-finals, Bihar progressed to the final with a 24-0 win over Maharashtra, while Odisha defeated Rajasthan 38-5. In the final, Odisha delivered a composed performance to defeat Bihar 26-5, claiming the title. The result was notable as Bihar had lifted the Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship at the same venue just two weeks earlier, highlighting the competitive balance within the age group.
The Junior Girls (U18) category produced some of the most compelling rugby of the tournament. In the semi-finals, Maharashtra edged past Bihar 22-17 with a dramatic golden try after trailing earlier in the match, while Odisha secured a 29-0 victory over Rajasthan. The final saw Odisha continue their strong run, registering victory by the same scoreline over Maharashtra to be crowned champions.
In the Senior Women’s competition, the semi-finals featured intense contests between experienced State teams. Bihar narrowly defeated Maharashtra 15-10 in the first semi-final, while Odisha overcame West Bengal 36-0 in the second semi-final. The final became a repeat of Rugby India’s Senior National Championship 2025 title clash between Bihar and Odisha. This time, Odisha produced a decisive performance to win 36-5, securing the Senior Women’s title.
Maharashtra and Rajasthan finished as joint 2nd runners-up in the Sub-Junior Girls (U15) category, while Bihar and Rajasthan shared joint 2nd runners-up honours in the Junior Girls (U18) competition. In the Senior Women’s category, West Bengal and Maharashtra completed the podium as joint 2nd runners-up.
The winners of each category were awarded a cash prize of ₹1,44,000, while the runners-up received ₹1,20,000. The joint 2nd runners-up, that is, both the losing semi-finalists in each category, were awarded a cash prize of ₹96,000 each.
In the U-15 category, Odisha’s Sumi Gagarai topped the scoring charts with 71 points, while Bihar’s Simaran Parveen finished as the top scorer in the Junior Girls (U18) category with 60 points. In the Senior Women’s competition, Rajasthan’s Muskan Piploda led the scoring charts with 55 points.
The ASMITA Rugby League – National, conducted under the ASMITA initiative of the Sports Authority of India and the Khelo India scheme for women’s sports, represents the culmination of a six-month-long, multi-tiered competitive pathway spanning city, zonal and national stages. Organised by the Indian Rugby Football Union with the support of the Department of Sports & Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha, and the Odisha Rugby Football Association, the League provided structured, high-level competition for women and girls across age groups.
With the conclusion of its inaugural edition, the ASMITA Rugby League – National reaffirmed the growing depth, competitiveness and reach of women’s rugby in India, offering athletes meaningful match exposure and a clear pathway to the national stage.