Colombo, October 19, 2025: India’s Senior Women’s Rugby Sevens team concluded Leg 2 of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series (ARESS) 2025 in Colombo with a commendable campaign, finishing 6th overall in the series.
Competing on Asia’s premier Rugby Sevens stage for the first time, the Indian side showcased skill, determination, and collective strength over the two legs. Following their impressive debut in Hangzhou, where India had risen from a pre-tournament ranking of 10th to finish 6th, opponents in Colombo were expected to hit harder. This meant the players had to toughen themselves, working even harder both mentally and physically for the second leg.
Paul Delport’s side began the second leg in Colombo with a hard-fought 17-7 win against UAE, followed by a dominant 50-0 victory over Indonesia, marking India’s highest-ever win at ARESS. Facing Leg 1 winners Japan, India fought with intensity but lost 43-0. On Day 2, India defeated Singapore 26-5 in the 5th-8th place playoffs, before narrowly losing 10-5 to Kazakhstan in the battle for fifth place.
Led by captain Shikha Yadav and featuring a squad of experienced performers, the team demonstrated depth and resilience throughout the tournament. The results in Colombo, combined with their Leg 1 performance in Hangzhou, where India had risen from a pre-tournament ranking of 10th to finish 6th, reflect the rapid growth of Indian Women’s Rugby on the continental stage.
Paul Delport, Head Coach, Senior Women’s Team, said:
“The team has shown incredible character, belief, and resilience across both legs of the series. From Hangzhou to Colombo, finishing 6th overall is a proud achievement for Indian Women’s Rugby. Each player contributed to this journey, and together with our wonderful management team, we’ve built a foundation that is stronger than ever. This tournament has given the squad confidence, experience, and insight, and we leave it ready and motivated for the next steps in our long-term growth and mission for Indian Women’s Rugby.”
Rahul Bose, President, Indian Rugby Football Union, added:
“We should pause to appreciate the strides our women have made in the ARESS. From being ranked 10th pre-tournament, they notched two excellent victories and finished 6th. In Colombo, knowing opponents would come back harder, the team prepared both physically and mentally, and their victories against UAE, Indonesia, and Singapore showed that preparation paid off. Finishing 6th in Asia, narrowly missing the top 5, is a proud milestone and a strong signal of Indian women’s rugby rising on the continental stage.”
With this 6th-place finish overall, India has confirmed its rise in Asian Women’s Rugby, combining strong performances in both Hangzhou and Colombo, and is now poised to carry this momentum into future tournaments, including the Asian Games 2026.
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Indian Scorers in Colombo
Kalyani Patil: 4 tries – 20 points
Shikha Yadav: 4 tries – 20 points
Sandhyarani Tudu: 1 try, 5 conversions – 15 points
Bhumika Shukla: 2 tries, 1 conversion – 12 points
Nirmalya Rout: 2 tries – 10 points
Arti Kumari: 2 tries – 10 points
Dumuni Marndi: 1 try – 5 points
Sandhya Rai: 1 try, 2 conversions – 9 points
Tarulata Naik: 2 conversions – 4 points
Amandeep Kaur: 1 conversion – 2 points
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Results Summary – ARESS 2025 (Colombo)
India 17-7 UAE
India 50-0 Indonesia
India 0-43 Japan
India 26-5 Singapore
India 5-10 Kazakhstan
Final Ranking: Sixth (20 points)
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