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Rugby and India have had a long and intertwined history and come the 2023 Asian Games, Sheetal Sharma, captain of India’s Rugby 7s side, will be hoping to make the nation and the sport proud.
After securing their place in the quadrennial continental sporting meet, Sheetal and her team started their national camp from July 29 in Kolkata, the spiritual home of rugby in India and the initiator of the Calcutta Cup, contested between England and Scotland.
Come August 27, the Indian team under the stewardship of South African coach Ludwiche Van Deventer, left for Borneo and returned on September 6.
“If I speak about the whole journey, it was an amazing experience. The thing we learnt there, it was a perfect exposure. Played matches against local Malaysian sides, did training sessions that helped build our confidence, especially for those who will be playing their first big tournament,” Sheetal Sharma told News18.com in an exclusive.
“We were playing against local players and intra-squad matches, but facing local sides there, matching their physicality given that we were testing ourselves against unknown opponents, did help. Confidence from these things will help us in the run-up to the Asian Games,” she added.
The Indian players performed well at the Borneo 7’s, finishing fourth and also learned a new trick to spring on their opponents – the ‘Borneo Passes’.
Playing in similar conditions, in training and matches, will help says Sheetal, given that one of the main focuses of the camp was to work on adaptability and interchanging of roles and positions on the field, be it centre, forward, on the wings or fly-half.
“Rain and drizzle was the same in Malaysia as in Kolkata and last we checked, the weather will be similar in China. We played 4-5 games daily and we have the experience of playing in the rain and in the sun too. We have adapted well, be it rain or shine or even a storm, our Rugby will not stop,” she asserted.
Over the 50-60 day camp, a regular day started in the wee hours of the morning with three sessions planned.
Training starts at 6:30 with two-hour rugby drills, and conditioning. Afternoon is strength training, followed by gym session.
“Apart from rugby training, we have fun sessions as well so that we are prepared physically and mentally. We have psychology sessions and on some days we have ‘battle sessions’ in which we don’t use rugby balls but have cross-fit instead,” Sheetal told News18.com.
“Our game is equally physical as well as mental and emotional and we need to work on all aspects.”
“In a long camp, the training sessions can get to the young athletes and psychology sessions help, even if it is just a chat about how one is feeling after a long hard day of work. Talking with the youngsters, making everyone feel comfortable so that they can give their hundred per cent,” she added.
The 28-year-old was quick to point out that these things were not common when she started out.
“Women were mere participants before. The previous batches of players were just happy to get to play. We are going to the Asian Games now and without their struggles, we would not have reached this point,” Sheetal said.
When asked about her own experiences, Sheetal said she started playing in 2016 and made her India debut in 2019. Since then there has been a sea of change, be it in terms of more sponsors, with the game is growing in some states as governments too are supporting players with jobs.
“Before it we used to reach the tournament venue just a day prior to the start and now we are having camps and exposure tours, getting acclimatised to the conditions. We have a steady salary now. Getting to train in High Performance Centers when we preparing for the season to start, the psychology and gym sessions. When we are at home, Rugby India makes sure we are taken care of, be it in terms of nutrition and supplements or our training is looked after,” she said.
“Like the other sports in the country, such as cricket or football, professionalism is there now in rugby,” she added.
When asked about what it would mean for her and the team to represent India at the Asian Games, Sheetal said: “Everyone has their short-term and long-term goals. Asian Games participation was our short-term goal. Which we did. Just after the Asian Games, there are a lot of tournaments, like the Asian Trophy, Asian Championships, Olympic qualifiers – those are the long-term goals.”
“Personally, I feel the Asian Games will open doors for us and Rugby will reach more people,” she added.
India start their campaign on September 24 against Hong Kong China in the morning session and Japan in the afternoon session. Drawn in Group F with defending champions Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore, the Indian team will have to qualify as one of the top two teams here to make it into the semi-final.
Sheetal said she and her team are not afraid of the challenge ahead.
“Most of the teams that are in the Asian Games, we have already faced them, bar some. We have started video analysis of the teams and what our strategy will be against them,” she said.
“Thailand, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Indonesia, we have already faced and we are confident of a good showing. Japan and Hong Kong will be a more neck-to-neck battle. We will not be last surely and will give our more than 100 per cent to win and bring back a medal,” she added.
The final Rugby Sevens squad includes Sweta Shahi, Sandhya Rai (Vice Captain), Mama Naik, Kalyani Patil, Vaishnavi Patil, Lachmi Oraon, Dumuni Marndi, Hupi Majhi, Shikha Yadav, Tarulata Naik, Priya Bansal and Sheetal Sharma (Captain).
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