Bhubaneswar, Nov 13: The trophy for the Asia Rugby Emirates U20 Sevens 2026 was unveiled by Odisha Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj in Bhubaneswar on Friday, ahead of the two-day international championship scheduled to begin at the Kalinga Stadium on Saturday.

The tournament, to be held on November 14 and 15, will feature 17 teams from 10 Asian nations, with 10 teams competing in the men's category and seven in the women's competition. India, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong China, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Nepal and Jordan are the participating nations.

India will compete in both categories, with the men's team drawn alongside Hong Kong China, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei and Nepal in Group A. The women's team will face Sri Lanka, Singapore and Nepal in Group D.

Also read: International rugby returns to Odisha after eight years, Bhubaneswar to host Asian U20 championship

The Indian teams will begin their campaign on Saturday, with the men's side taking on Uzbekistan at 9 am, while the women's team faces Nepal at 11.12 am. The pool matches will continue on Sunday, followed by the knockout stages.

Speaking at the trophy unveiling, Suraj said Odisha's investment in sporting infrastructure and commitment to hosting major competitions reflected its ambition to create opportunities for athletes and nurture grassroots talent.

Asia Rugby CEO Benjamin van Rooyen said hosting the championship would further strengthen India's position as an emerging rugby nation in Asia.

Bhubaneswar last hosted an international rugby event in 2018. Since then, Odisha has continued to promote the sport by hosting several national-level competitions, including the Sub-Junior National Rugby Sevens Championship and the National Rugby 15s Championship.

The tournament is expected to provide a platform for emerging rugby talent across Asia while further strengthening Odisha's reputation as a destination for international sporting events.