Ramtek’s Vanshika in Mah rugby squad

 

DEFYING all odds, young rugby player Vanshika Dodke, a Scheduled Tribe athlete from remote Dongartal village in Ramtek, became the first girl from Nagpur to earn a spot in the Maharashtra State Sub-Junior (Under-15) Contact Rugby squad. She will compete in the Sub-Junior National Rugby 7s Championship, organised under the aegis of Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) in Bhubaneswar.

 

Vanshika secured her spot after excelling at the selection camp held at Barnes School and Junior College, Deolali Camp, Nashik where she stood out among 35 talented players from across the state. Hailing from a family reliant on agriculture, Vanshika faced significant challenges including financial constraints and the risks associated with training in an area known for tiger attacks. She and other aspiring players often practised on small patches of farmland or uneven surfaces at the edges of fields. The Rugby Association of Nagpur congratulated Vanshika on this achievement and wished her luck for the upcoming championship.