Bhubaneswar: Odisha is all set to host the prestigious Asia Rugby Emirates U20 Sevens Championship 2026 at the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on November 14 and 15 and sports authorities are making final preparations for the event.
Odisha Sports and Youth Services Minister Suryabanshi Suraj on Monday reviewed preparations for the two-day international tournament.
The tournament will feature 17 teams, including 10 men’s and seven women’s sides from 10 countries — India, Hong Kong China, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Jordan.
Eight players from Odisha have secured places in the Indian U20 squads, with five selected in the men’s team and three in the women’s side. Bharat Kisan, Vidyadhar Majhi, Charan Hembram, Rahul Majhi and Subash Hansda will feature in the men’s squad, while Mamali Singh, Anita Murmu and Sumitra Murmu have been named in the women’s team.
The championship is being jointly organised by Rugby India, the Odisha Sports and Youth Services Department and the Odisha Rugby Football Association.
During the review meeting, the Minister directed officials to ensure seamless arrangements for the arrival, accommodation, transportation and hospitality of participating teams. He also emphasised adequate security for players and spectators, police deployment, drinking water, sanitation, uninterrupted power supply and fire safety at the venue.
Describing the hosting of the international event as a matter of pride for the state, the Minister said Odisha had already hosted three national-level rugby championships at Kalinga Stadium this year — the Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship, ASMITA Rugby League – National and National Rugby 15s Championship – Division I.
The upcoming championship would further enhance Odisha’s standing on the international sporting map and inspire young players in the state and across the country to take up rugby, he said.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Sports and Youth Services Department Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner of Police Suresh Dev Datta Singh, BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana, Director of Sports and Youth Services Yeddula Vijay, Additional Director of the Information and Public Relations Department Deeptimayee Mahapatra and other senior officials.