RAHUL BOSE, who plays the game with the same intensity that he shows on the silver screen, is a very happy man. He has been selected to represent India at the World Cup qualifier for the Asian zone rugby tournament to be held in Bangkok.

Now, Rahul, with his team, is all set to take on the other top Asian teams and emerge as one of the top five nations in the continent. “This tournament is a qualifier to proceed into the next group among the Asian nations of the world. It would be a big step for India. It’s a quadrangular knockout tournament. The other teams are Malaysia, Thailand and Pakistan,” he says. However, when told that a certain section of the media had reported that a win in this tournament would guarantee Rahul and his boys a place in the world championship, he shoots back saying, “That’s not true at all. It’s utterly inaccurate and highly exaggerated. The best 32 nations play the World Cup. India is ranked 83rd. and has been playing rugby for 100 years. We were recognized only 10 years ago and have decades to go before we reach the World Cup.”

He immediately adds, “Whatever be the outcome, it’s definitely my last international tournament. I am 40. I guess I am the oldest international player in the world. By next year I will be fit to be dropped. So before that happens I think it’s better to leave gracefully.” Playing rugby entails a lot of injuries and Rahul has had his fair share. “I have had two major arthroscopies, six broken fingers, including two shattered thumbs and three broken noses. The most serious one was when dirt was kicked violently into my eyes. I almost lost my eyesight because there were 210 pieces of stones stuck in the corneas of both my eyes.” We at my sports India wish the Indian team all the best.

Malaysia meet Pakistan at 4pm and Thailand take on India at 6pm. The tournament is not going to be telecast live but we at My Sports India will be covering the the tournament so keep checking for updates.