India's Sweety Kumari is rugby's ‘international young player of the year’
19-year-old Sweety Kumari, nicknamed India’s ‘Scoring Machine’ is also Asia’s ‘fastest player.’
Indian women's rugby player Sweety Kumari has been named the ‘international young player of the year’ by reputed women’s rugby website, Scrumqueens. The 19-year-old explosive winger was also picked as the ‘continent's fastest player’ by Asia Rugby earlier.
Sweety who hails from Newada village, in Barh tehsil of Patna was a sprinter before she switched to rugby. She followed her brother into athletics, but on the insistence of secretary of the state rugby association she tried out rugby. Her pace and ability to tackle the defenders without losing out her on her speed has made her a talent to watch out for.
The popular rugby site, Scrumqueens announced the winners on December 30 after a public poll of 10 nominees from around the world.
"All of our nominees made a major impact on the game having started their careers at clubs or schools but only one began after forming her own team," wrote Scrumqueens about Sweety.
Sweety was 14 when she got to know about rugby and she singlemindedly found out everything about the game. She formed her own team and entered the state championships. After her impressive run there, she made it to the U-17 Indian team and in 2019, she broke into the senior national side.
Nicknamed India’s “Scoring Machine” by her teammates, Sweety’s runs helped India score their first Fifteens Test win against Singapore. Her match winning performances against Philippines and Singapore in the fifteens have made her the best talent India has seen in quite some time.
Scrumqueens write further that Sweety’s selection is a cause of her “big impact scene in Asia at both sevens and fifteens. Described by Asia Rugby as the continent's fastest player, her explosive pace and power has resulted in her top scoring at most of India’s sevens tournaments, as well as scoring two outstanding tries their first ever test match win against Singapore."
Sweety’s father is a handyman and her mother, an anganwadi worker. The story of Sweety’s rise in the sport is inspiring. In an interview she said, “My father put me ahead of others and helped me in every way he could. I would tell coaches to lend me spikes, I would prove I deserved them by winning.”
Sweety enjoys stardom in her home state Bihar, where the government has elevated rugby to the level of sports like cricket and rugby and offers jobs to talented rugby players. In Pacific nations that boast a strong rugby tradition, she is hounded by fans asking for autographs.
However, Sweety is aware that her real challenge will be when she plays outside Asia and against stronger contenders.
(Edited by Rekha Balakrishnan)