NAGPUR: Basics of basketball came handy for Ishika Motghare as the Nagpur cager gave the district rugby association its first senior national woman player.

For the first time since the Rugby Association of Nagpur (RAN) came into existence eight years ago, the district body was able to produce a player to find place in the Maharashtra team for the Senior Women’s Rugby National Championship, which began at the Balewadi stadium in Pune on Wednesday.

Ishika (24) became Nagpur’s first girl to represent Maharashtra in the senior nationals. Though the Maharashtra women team has mostly registered a podium finish, Nagpur players never found their name in the 12-member state squad. Ishika broke that jinx and is optimistic of scaling new highs.

Sharing her journey exclusively with TOI, Ishika said, “I always wanted to play sports to keep myself fit. I have been playing basketball since I was a kid. In 2022, my elder brother Ujwal told me to attend selection trials for Nagpur University’s rugby team. To my surprise, I got selected for the All India University matches.”

She added, “I was not that serious about taking up rugby but with time I found it interesting and after regular practice I got my place in the senior Maharashtra team. I felt proud when I came to know that I was Nagpur’s first woman to get a berth in the Maharashtra team for the senior nationals.”

Ishika said the basics of basketball came handy for her while learning rugby. “The ball handling skills, dodges, passes and defensive techniques that I learnt in basketball became an asset for me in rugby. The rough and tough body tackle, which is not allowed in basketball, was the toughest part for me to pick up in rugby, but with time I got used to it. Now I too can challenge any rough tackle and move swiftly while clearing the ball for my teammates,” Ishika explained.

Just like in basketball, a 12-member team is selected in rugby but seven play on the field at a time. Ishika said, “The stamina that a basketball player possesses helps a player play the 14-minute rugby match with full strength. Initially I found it easy, but now looking at the competition here in the senior nationals, I need to work hard, and look forward to earning my berth in the India camp in future.”

Shilpa Tiwari, secretary of RAN, said, “Ishika’s achievement will undoubtedly boost the morale of all other players from Nagpur and will significantly help us in promoting and developing rugby in Nagpur district.”

All members of RAN, including coaches Amar Bhandarwar, Sunil Choudhary, and Nehal Dangem, congratulated Ishika for her success.