Village Girl Scores 9 Tries in First Rugby Tournament

Mahak Chauhan showed up to a sports trial in Roorkee thinking she was there to race. It was actually a rugby trial, and she stayed anyway.

That accidental decision in 2023 changed everything. The 20-year-old from Bhadrasu village in Uttarkashi, a mountainous district in northern India, had moved to the city to pursue track and field after finishing eighth grade.

But rugby found her instead. Coaches noticed her potential at that mistaken trial, and she started learning a sport she'd never planned to play.

Three years later, Mahak stepped onto the field in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for her first senior international tournament. The CASA Rugby 7s brought together six women's teams from Central and South Asia, including defending powerhouse Sri Lanka.

In just two days of competition, Mahak scored nine tries. Her most dramatic came in the final minute against Sri Lanka, turning a deficit into a stunning 22-19 victory over the eventual champions.

India finished fourth overall, but Mahak walked away with the Women's Player of the Tournament award. The numbers speak for themselves: nine tries at your first senior international is exceptional at any level.

Why This Inspires

Mahak's journey shows what happens when young athletes get a chance, even by accident. She grew up in a village where rugby barely existed, moved away for better training opportunities, and stumbled into a sport that would showcase her talent on an international stage.

Her development happened through India's growing rugby infrastructure. After that first trial, she earned a spot on the Under-20 national team and won bronze at an international championship in Malaysia before graduating to the senior squad.

The CASA Rugby 7s marked a breakthrough not just for Mahak but for Indian women's rugby. The team proved they could compete with regional champions, losing only to Sri Lanka in regular play before a close third-place match against Uzbekistan.

Rugby sevens demands speed, quick decisions, and physical courage in seven-minute halves with seven players per side. For someone who learned the sport from scratch just three years ago, Mahak's performance demonstrated both natural athletic ability and remarkable determination.

Her story matters beyond the scoreboard. Young athletes in remote villages across India now have proof that unexpected opportunities can lead to international recognition, that switching sports isn't failure, and that being in the right place at the wrong time might actually be perfect timing.

From a girl who thought she was running a race to Player of the Tournament at a senior international competition, Mahak Chauhan turned a simple mistake into India's newest rugby success story.