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Young World
Jungle KISS for a Rugby Cup
HARIHARAN BALAKRISHNAN
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Orissa’s Jungle Crows returned from London with the Rugby Crown. This Under-14 team won the Cup having put up a strong fight.
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The victorious team returned to Orissa, to a tumultuous welcome. They were feted by the Governor and Chief Minister of the state.
Dauntless dozen: The victorious team.
They call themselves Jungle Crows —12 boys from the forests of Orissa, all below 14. They belong to the Santhal, Kohlo, Bonda and Bathudi tribes. Most of them are so poor that they can barely have two meals a day. However, recently, these children went to London and returned with the Under-14 Rugby World Cup.
First it was the Asian Cup for Hockey. Then, came the T20 Cricket World Cup. And now, the Jungle Crows from Orissa have won the Rugby Crown. Suddenly, Team Young India seems to be doing well on the sports field.
Honoured returned
Unlike Cricket and Hockey, Rugby is not popular in India. Yet, this dauntless dozen are the champs today. They are from the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) that caters to the tribal children of Orissa. It is a sister-concern of KIIT (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology) University. What makes these boys click? “Team Leader” of KIIT, L.C. Amaranathan, who was earlier Vice Chancellor of the Sikkim Manipal University in Gangtok, says “Our boys have tremendous stamina and talent. Given them the opportunity and guidance, and the sky is the limit.”
The victorious team returned the day after Gandhi Jayanti to a tumultuous welcome. They were feted by the Governor and Chief Minister.
Captain Rajkishore Murmu (14) from Keonjhar says it all happened so fast, his boys were very nimble and played as per strategy. Ganesh Hembram (12), the baby of the team, is from Bahalda in Mayurbhanj. He’s a “scrummer”. Babula Melaka, from the Rayagada-Bissamkatak belt was the match-winner in the finals.
Coach Rudrakesh Jena is the Physical Training Instructor.
Rugby started two years ago and a team of coaches from the U.K. had come to hone their skills last September. For these Crows, the sky may be the limit.
Right now, they are flying high — and aiming higher.
Training to win
The boys started playing competitive Rugby four months ago with expert coaching from England’s Rugby Association coach Paul Walsh. On their way to London, they worsted other teams from India. Once there at the World Cup venue, they defeated teams from Zambia, Swaziland, Kenya and Romania before reaching the finals. The crowning glory came when they beat the team from formidable South Africa 19-5 in the finals. The invitation tournament was sponsored by the charitable organisation Touraid among deprived boys under 14 from 10 countries.
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