Ankush Arora

CEO- Rugby India, Former Project Director FIFA U17 Women's World Cup and AFC Women's Asian Cup India 2022|| AISTS Alumni MAS 2014|| Views are personal.

[IndiaSportsHub @IndiaSportsHub]

Back-to-back podium finishes for Indian Rugby on the continental stage. 🇮🇳🏉

The Indian Men’s Rugby Team finishes as runners-up at the:

• Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy 2025
• Central & South Asia Rugby-7 Championship 2026

Indian rugby is moving forward one tournament at a time.

#IndianRugby #RugbyIndia #AsiaRugby #Rugby7s #TeamIndia #IndianSports #RugbySevens #IndiaSportsHub

[Ankush Arora @ankusharora]

@NavinSports This was a very young team most of them playing international competition for first time. Important to test bench strength as well.

[Ankush Arora @ankusharora]

Proud of the team the way they fought. Lots to improve but we only keep getting better.

[Rugby India @RugbyIndia]

A silver medal finish in Tashkent 🇮🇳🥈🏉

The Senior Men’s Team wrap up an impressive campaign at #CASARugby7s 2026 🔥

#RugbyIndia

[Ankush Arora @ankusharora]

@NavinSports @casa_rugby @RugbyIndia @GeraldPrabhu Thanks for covering the competition and following our journey.

[Rugby Premier League @RPLIndia]

From global picks to India’s rising stars, teams have built their final squads.
The journey to the @HSBC_IN Rugby Premier League Season 2 begins here 🏉🔥

#RugRugMeinRugby #HSBCRPLforMen #HSBCRPLforWomen

[Rugby Premier League @RPLIndia]

Moments from the @HSBC_IN Rugby Premier League Season 2 Auction 📸
Squads ready for what’s ahead 💪

#RugRugMeinRugby #HSBCRPLforMen #HSBCRPLforWomen

[Ankush Arora @ankusharora]

@NavinSports @ZafaronIndigo @TheKhelIndia Hope you got your answer today. :)

[Rugby Premier League @RPLIndia]

In 2025 we created history with RPL Men. In 2026 history doesn’t just repeat itself, it sets the bar even higher.

Welcome to the HSBC Rugby Premier League, now for Men and Women.

#HSBCRPLMen #HSBCRPLWomen

[Zafaron Indigo @ZafaronIndigo]

One exception I would like to proudly say is Rugby India 🇮🇳

From Sub Juniors to Senior Nationals the coverage was of good quality

Top notch Professionalism in their approach, match schedules, officiating, video referrals, pitch quality, camera angles, updates, etc

[Ankush Arora @ankusharora]

A much needed step in strengthening Rugby across the two regions. It is going to be one exciting competition, looking forward to it. #CASA #2Regions1Vision

[CASA RUGBY @casa_rugby]

🚨 CASA Rugby Alliance LAUNCHED 🚨
🏉 Inaugural CASA 7s

📍 Tashkent
📅 16-17 May 2026

🔥 12 teams (6 men / 6 women)
🌟 Tajikistan debut

✅ Sanctioned by Asia Rugby & World Rugby
A new pathway begins 🌍

#CASARUGBY #AsiaRugby

[Siddharth @DearthOfSid]

No country in the world needs a regime change as much as the United States does.

[Ankush Arora @ankusharora]

Rest in peace Kushal sir. A good administrator with sound knowledge of sports business.

[90ndstoppage @90ndstoppage]

Former AIFF General Secretary, Kushal Das passed away this morning at a private hospital in New Delhi.

Das had resigned from the post in the year 2022, citing health reasons.

He also worked with ICC.

One of the longest serving AIFF employee. (12 years)

Om Shanti 🙏💐🕊️

[Abhinav A. Bindra OLY @Abhinav_Bindra]

Not every inspiring sporting story ends with a trophy. Over the last few days, Lakshya Sen has shown India what courage, resilience and belief truly look like. His run to another All England final, through extraordinary wins and immense physical pain, has been about far more than a result. He has reminded young India that greatness lies not only in winning, but in the honesty of effort, the dignity of the fight and the strength to keep believing. I am Proud of you, @lakshya_sen . Very, very proud.

[Ankush Arora @ankusharora]

Gearing up for chapter 2 of Rug Rug Mein Rugby.

[Rugby Premier League @RPLIndia]

Season 2 begins with alignment and ambition.

The first RPL Season 2 Workshop brought together franchise owners and teams to deep-dive into competition structure, team logistics, player framework, marketing learnings & timelines for the road ahead. 🏉

#RugRugMeinRugby #GMRRPL

[Abhinav A. Bindra OLY @Abhinav_Bindra]

Lionel Messi is one of those rare athletes whose story transcends sport. His journey from a child fighting physical odds to a footballer who redefined excellence has moved millions across the world. As someone who has lived the life of an athlete, I hold profound respect and admiration for what he represents perseverance humility and an uncompromising pursuit of greatness.

Yet as his recent visit to India unfolded parts of it felt chaotic and left me quietly uneasy. It compelled me to pause and reflect not in judgment but in genuine concern about what we were really trying to achieve.

I fully understand the economics of sport. I understand commercial realities global branding and the magnetism of icons. I do not fault Messi in any way. He has earned every opportunity that comes his way and admiration for greatness is natural even beautiful.

But admiration must also invite introspection.

As a society are we building a culture of sport or are we simply celebrating individuals from afar.

Millions were spent for moments of proximity photographs and fleeting access to a legend. And yes it is people’s money earned honestly and theirs to spend as they choose. Still I can’t help but feel a quiet sadness wondering what might have been possible if even a fraction of that energy and investment had been directed toward the foundations of sport in our country.

Playgrounds where children can run freely. Coaches who can guide young talent. Grassroots programmes that give opportunity to those who may never otherwise be seen. Spaces where sport is not a spectacle but a daily habit a teacher and a source of dignity.

Great sporting nations are not built by moments they are built by systems. By patience. By belief in the ordinary child with an extraordinary dream.

Icons like Messi inspire us and that inspiration matters deeply. But inspiration must be met with intent. With long term commitment. With choices that reflect not just what excites us today but what will strengthen us tomorrow.

If we truly wish to honour legends like Messi the most meaningful way to do so is not through grand gestures but by ensuring that somewhere in India a young child has a field to play on a coach to believe in them and a chance to dream.

That is how sporting cultures are born. And that is how legacies endure.

[Ankush Arora @ankusharora]

The mismanagement and political PR stunts being pulled around Messi’s visit are hardly a surprise to me, what I am not able to understand is why are fans ready to pay 10-12k to just see him wave his hand at you from a distance. #MessiInIndia

[Joy Bhattacharjya @joybhattacharj]

I have no idea what happened in Kolkata in the Messi event. But I couldn't help thinking that we Indians really do not like sport. We like stars.
What else could explain the millions, and I mean millions of dollars we spend to fly in superstars, when they will not even play a proper match.
I am ok with paying whatever it takes to bring in a top football team to play in India, like Messi did in 2011 or Tata Steel did for a long time in the 80s and 90s.
But getting them to come here just to shake hands and pose for pictures defies all reason. They will sell real estate, take pictures with every sponsor and go back with more money in two days than say the I League used to spend in a year.
I don't blame the organizers for getting into this, its a really profitable business, because the politicians are getting serious free mileage and the sponsor is spending his, or his company's money to fulfil his childhood fantasy. The journalists are overawed just to be there with a generational superstar, lots of folks are spending a reported Rs 10 lacs for a handshake and a photo op and the real estate guys are busy pushing deals.
That's millions of bucks spent on a footballer, whose closest attempt at action would be kicking a few footballs at the crowd or dribbling for a few minutes. Money that is desperately desperately needed elsewhere in actual football. Real camps, matches, ground level sponsorships. Or even to revive a football league.
And then we expect India to be better at sport!

[Joy Bhattacharjya @joybhattacharj]

If cricket wants to take its place as a genuinely global sport, it must stop this farcical business of ensuring India and Pakistan are always in the same group.
All are aware that it is a money spinner for the broadcasters, and that all the member countries approve & benefit, but it risks not being taken seriously in comparison to other global sports.
If you did this with Argentina Brazil in football or even USA France in basketball, there would be an uproar.
Take the hit once, and you'll discover that cricket is bigger than just one rivalry, which currently is not even close to being the most riveting rivalry in the sport. And the sport will gain so much more credibility as a truly Olympic sport.

[Ankush Arora @ankusharora]

What a match and what a performance!! Chasing down 338 against the mighty Aussies. Let’s bring the cup home!!! @BCCIWomen #CWC25