Pakistan women to make international debut in RugbyU

[Dawood Ibrahim]

LAHORE: Pakistan's women rugby team will make their international debut at the Asian Women's Rugby Sevens in Laos this weekend, determined to succeed despite a lack of funding.

Pakistan's participation in the tournament, which includes sides from India, South Korea, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, is a "great honour", rugby official Syed Moazzam Ali Shah told AFP Thursday.

Coach Shakil Ahmad said he was confident the young team, formed last year, would play among the top four at the tournament.

But he called on the Pakistani government to allocate more funds for rugby to enable "us to facilitate all players, including girls", saying the team relies on handouts from the World Rugby Association.

Resources are often thin for sports other than cricket in Pakistan, especially when it comes to female athletes.

His players were optimistic, however.

"Our team is a good team and has the capacity to win the tournament," Hadeel Niazi told AFP at a training camp in Lahore.

Fellow player Mariam Butt said she had struggled to make practice through injury, while at the same time working as a teacher and caring for her elderly mother.

"Rugby is the toughest sport," she said.

Pakistan are set to meet South Korea, Laos and Nepal in the first stages on Friday, Shah said.


https://www.geo.tv/latest/131356-Pakistan-women-to-make-international-debut-in-RugbyU

 

[MystryMan]

Good. We should support other sports as we have for cricket.

 

[Gibbs]

Lovely to see, Pakistan as new comers gave a run for their money to the more experienced campaigners India going down just 5-0, After late try from the Indians playing with one extra woman after Pakistan got a yellow card

South Korea eventual winners will get promoted to play in the top tier in Asia (Japan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Thailand) From next year.. India creditably finished 2nd loosing only to but does not get promoted to the Asian 7's league

Indian and Pakistani ladies of the national 7's teams

which includes sides from India, South Korea, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, is a "great honour", rugby official Syed Moazzam Ali Shah told AFP Thursday.

Sri Lanka play's in the top division in Asia, This tournament was for the 2nd tier nations