Rooting for rugby

Twenty-three-year-old Vahbiz Bharucha was a member of the Indian team that came second at the Asian Women’s Rugby Sevens Trophy tournament held in Vientiane, Laos, on February 17 and 18, 2017. India won against Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, Laos and Nepal but lost to South Korea in the finals.

Vahbiz Bharucha

A member of the Indian Women’s Rugby Sevens team since 2009, and captain from 2013-16, Bharucha had earlier participated in the 16th Asian Games at Guangzhou, China in 2010, according to a write-up forwarded by Parinaz Patel Jokhi. Bharucha is currently stand-in captain of the Maharashtra Women’s Rugby Sevens team. Captains are appointed by the coach on the basis of their "experience, game knowledge and leadership skills,” states Bharucha who was conferred the Doordarshan Sahyadri Hirkani Award in 2016 and the Phoenix Leading Lady Award this year.
The Poona resident is a physiotherapist by profession who wants to specialize in sports physiotherapy. She is the third generation from the Bharucha family who is involved with sports. Prior to playing rugby at the national level she played handball for the Maharashtra state team and captained it in 2008. Her late grandfather Adi used to wrestle and do bodybuilding. Her father Boman whom she considers "a great driving force,” was a member of the state hockey team and was also into boxing and bodybuilding. She has two older brothers, Rushad, and Yazad who is a passionate football player. Mother Armin is a homemaker "and the reason I’m so healthy,” states Vahbiz.