Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday honoured U – 18 Girls Rugby team with a cash award of Rs Five lakhs for winning silver at Asia Rugby U-18 Girls Rugby Sevens Championship 2021 held at Tashkent in Uzbekistan.

He interacted with the Indian U-18 Girls Rugby team. Chief Minister in his address congratulated the team and said that you played brilliantly and narrowly missed the gold. We are very proud of this achievement. You have shown grit, speed, skill and fierce determination. I am sure this is the start of a new journey in the coming years, you all will make history.

Five countries from across Asia including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, UAE, India and the host Uzbekistan participated. The team thanked the Chief Minister for his constant support to sports, particularly Rugby. Minister of State for Sports Tushar Kanti Behera was also present.