J&K dominates Touch Rugby National Championship

Srinagar, Apr 13: Home side Jammu and Kashmir delivered a commanding performance at the recently concluded Touch Rugby National Championship, clinching multiple gold medals across categories as the two-day event concluded at Polo Ground in Srinagar on April 11.

Mehnoor Shakeel and Sadeel Shakeel, both senior category rugby players from Srinagar, while speaking to Greater Kashmir, said that the national-level tournament brought together 20 teams from across the country, with J&K emerging as the standout unit, excelling in both boys’ and girls’ divisions, including a dominant show in the mixed category.

Teams representing states and Union Territories including Assam, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Bihar and Manipur competed in a vibrant display of skill and sportsmanship.

Mehnoor said the host Jammu and Kashmir emerged as one of the standout performers, clinching multiple titles across categories.

She said that in the senior women’s category, J&K secured the gold medal, while Rajasthan took silver. Delhi and Andhra Pradesh shared the bronze.
The junior women’s (U-18) title went to Rajasthan, with J&K finishing runners-up. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana bagged bronze medals.

In the sub-junior girls (U-14) category, J&K dominated to win gold, followed by Ladakh with silver, while Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh secured bronze.

Among men, Maharashtra clinched gold in the senior category, with J&K taking silver. Rajasthan and Bihar finished with bronze medals.

The junior men (U-18) category saw Bihar emerge victorious, while Ladakh secured silver. Uttarakhand and Jharkhand claimed bronze.

In the sub-junior boys (U-14) category, J&K once again topped the podium with gold, Uttarakhand took silver, and Rajasthan and Jharkhand secured bronze.

A special mixed category, featuring both boys and girls, added a unique dimension to the championship. J&K clinched gold, Jharkhand secured silver, and Ladakh finished with bronze.

The two-day rugby championship highlighted the growing sporting culture in Kashmir, with local teams delivering remarkable performances across age groups.