Thus, the federation (PRUI) has been doing a great job.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian men's and women's rugby sevens national teams are expected to rank in the top three at the 2022 Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy on August 6-7, 2022, at the Gelora Bung Karno Rugby Pitch, Jakarta.

Chairman of the Executive Board of the Association of Rugby Union Indonesia (PB PRUI) Didik Mukhriyanto stated here on Saturday that his side was grateful to Asia Rugby, the governing body of rugby associations of Asian countries, for entrusting Indonesia to host the event again after having successfully held the competition in 2019.

In Indonesia, rugby was competed for the first time in the National Sports Week (PON) at the XX Papua PON, held on October 2-15, 2021, to encourage the development of sports at the national level.

The PB PRUI chairman noted that the sports will also be contested at the XXI Aceh-North Sumatra PON in 2024

He expected eight events of rugby to be competed at the next PON.

Furthermore, he expressed hope that the Indonesian rugby national team would be able to partake in the next Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and Asian Games.

On the same occasion, President of Asia Rugby Qais Abdulla Al Dhalai said that this edition was the biggest Asian Rugby Sevens Trophy in history, with the participation of 19 teams, comprising 12 men's teams and seven women's teams.

"This is one of the biggest events in Asian history. We have never had 19 teams in one event. We hope the two days (of the implementation of the tournament) will be great -- today (Saturday) and tomorrow (Sunday)," he stated.

Furthermore, he lauded the development of rugby in Indonesia in recent years as was apparent from the success of the Indonesian women's national team in defeating Nepal, with a score of 43-0 in their first match.

"Rugby in Indonesia is improving rapidly. We, Asia Rugby, monitors (the development of rugby) in 36 countries in Asia, and Indonesia is one of the countries with the fastest improvement. Thus, the federation (PRUI) has been doing a great job," Dhalai remarked.

A total of 19 teams from 16 countries -- Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand, Iran, Nepal, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, and Guam -- are participating in the 2022 Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy.

Related news: Indonesia's 87 athletes to compete at 5th Islamic Solidarity Games
Related news: International surfing competitions can support tourism in Bali
Related news: Minister lauds hosting of President Cup 2022 for badminton

Translator: Arindra Meodia, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2022