At one point while addressing the media to announce the tie-up between Capgemini and Indian rugby 7s in Mumbai on September 14, Rahul Bose, the president of Rugby India and an actor, spread his arms wide at the lectern. (More Sports News)
Bose, who played 17 internationals for India, was not gesturing to a teammate to pass him the ball. He was explaining the sport바카라s surprisingly large, if somewhat inconspicuous, presence in India, and the diversity of backgrounds that some Indian players come from.
바카라Whether it is Sandhya Rai, who comes from an impoverished family in Jalpaiguri district in Bengal, who led the under-18 team, or whether it is Vahbiz Bharucha, who leads the women바카라s team. They come from two opposite ends of the income spectrum,바카라 Bose said. 바카라Whether it is tribals in Telangana, who we바카라re doing grassroots work with, or whether it is boys and girls in Cathedral school, Mumbai, they couldn바카라t be further apart.바카라
More than 300 of India바카라s approximately 730 districts play rugby, according to Bose. This large pool was one of the clinching points in the federation바카라s successful pitch to Capgemini, and it will be tapped as the country targets Olympic participation, at least for the women바카라s team, in 2028. Hints of a franchise based league were dropped too.
In addition, Bose highlighted other improvements for Indian rugby players, such as high performance training facilities, insurance and compensation.
바카라For the first time in history, we are paying the players selected for the national camp,바카라 Bose said. 바카라It바카라s not much 바카라 Rs 50,000-60,000 over 40 days of effort to thirty or forty players. But it바카라s a start. There is also insurance for players. Camp me kuch hua, match me kuch hua, you are covered.바카라
Indian Rugby바카라s job of wooing Capgemini was made easier by the company already being a World Rugby sponsor.
바카라It바카라s an extension of what we do globally,바카라 said Ashwin Yardi, CEO, Capgemini India. 바카라[As per the contract] There is financial support for the team and we바카라re looking at a multi-year partnership. The idea is to be a part of this journey from the grassroots level and create a strong rugby movement which leads us to that 2028 Olympics ambition.바카라
According to Bose, the top-2 teams in a World Cup have a shot at Olympics participation. The Indian women바카라s team is in a position to attempt the mission, while the men will need longer.
Bharucha, the Indian women바카라s captain, and Prince Khatri, the men바카라s skipper, were present at the announcement. Both felt that India needed to play more international matches to improve. The federation is trying to organize bi-lateral series to fulfil this requirement.
바카라We have some good speed on the team, and we have unity,바카라 said Bharucha. 바카라We need more match time.바카라
Said Khatri, 바카라We currently play a couple of international games a year. But now, with the plans for the coming year, we will have more opportunities. If we play four or five competitions in a year and train at the high performance facility, we바카라ll get better.바카라
High quality training has made a big difference for the women바카라s team, Bharucha said.
바카라Initially, we fell short on size. Ever since the high performance program, the scenario changed,바카라 she said. 바카라We started getting better nutrition and training. You could see the change in our bodies. We built muscle and were toned. We can now handle the workload of a long 40-day camp. Training twice a day, six days a week, for 40 days, is not a small task.바카라
Many Indian sports have aped the IPL to try and make money and impact for their discipline. Bose did not deny the possibility of a rugby league in India, but said there was time for that.
바카라[However] When Rugby India has a franchise based league, it will be world class,바카라 he said. 바카라We will hit that ground not running, we바카라ll hit that ground flying.바카라
