Underdogs Overwhelm

Every time Willie Hetaraka wondered about his role in putting this unfancied nation on rugby8217;s world map, he8217;d dream of how there...

Every time Willie Hetaraka wondered about his role in putting this unfancied nation on rugby8217;s world map, he8217;d dream of how there8217;d be potentially one billion people backing his team of 15 believers.

On a breezy Saturday afternoon at the Bombay Gymkhana, that dream came a fraction closer as underdogs India registered their first-ever Test win at home by beating higher-ranked Malaysia 48-12 in a World Cup qualifier. It was a convincing win for an Indian team that has too long fallen to the sucker punch, a victim of last-minute collapses and disorganisation.

Not today. Denied more than the odd-victory for the seven long years since their first international match in 1998, and dismissed as puny pushovers from a big land, India were waiting to prove a point. And sensing a disorganised opposition, they decided to go all the way this time.

As star kicker Emil Vartazarian put it, 8216;8216;The boys were very hungry, they had waited too long.8217;8217;

No one was hungrier, no one more summed up the spirit than than centre Amarveer Singh Ladhar, who ran the sprint of his fledgling rugby career down the left flank before touching down, breathless and panting.

India now travel to Guam to take on the latter in their backyard on June 18 and a victory away from home would improve their chances of making it to the next stage of the qualifiers.

India have now won two out of four Tests in the past two years, a far better stat than the 15 losses in the five preceding seasons. And captain Nasser Hussain believes that this percentage can only get better with time.

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And as the boys danced at the final whistle, Hetaraka, whose imaginative talks and punishing workouts have driven this team this far, hummed the team song. 8216;I believe I can fly.8217;

Today they believed. And they flew.

Results

India 48 Tries: Amarveer Singh Ladhar 2, Ganesh Sawant, Ajay Subherwal, Manmandir Samra, Hrishikesh Pendse and M Faizalabhoy; Conversions: Emil Vartazarian 4, Penalty Emil Vartazarian beat Malaysia 12 Tries: Mohd Azdar 2, Conversions: Nasarudin.

Shivani Naik

Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More