Jalpaiguri, Feb. 19: Swapna Oraon and Chandra Oraon from a remote tea garden in Jalpaiguri district have made it to the national women's rugby team.

The daughters of workers on Saraswatipur Tea Estate near Belakoba will represent India at the Asian Development Rugby Seven Series Tournament to be held in Chennai from tomorrow.

"It is really a proud moment for us as two girls from a remote tea estate have been selected for a national rugby team. The duo had faced several hardships. They will represent the country at an international rugby championship which is indeed an achievement for both of them," Roshan Xaxa, the technical coach of Swapna, 17, and Chandra, 19, said over the phone from Chennai today.

"Teams from India, Nepal, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Guam and Indonesia will participate in the tournament that will begin tomorrow. It will be a two-day event and the matches will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai," he added.

Saraswatipur is around 20km from here.

Sources said all women players for the Jalpaiguri district team were selected from Saraswatipur estate. "There are nine players from the tea garden who have represented Bengal and participated in the national rugby championship held in Hooghly last year. During the national tournament, selectors of the women's team picked five players from the tea estate and three from Calcutta for the trial in Chennai. After the trial, Swapna and Chandra were selected. They are now among the first 12 players of the Indian team," said a source.

Swapna studies in Class XI and Chandra in Class X at Gazaldoba High School.

Speaking over the phone from Chennai, Swapna said: "We have proved that tea estates in Jalpaiguri can breed national-level rugby players. We have to prove our skills now and ensure that our team becomes the champion in the tournament."

Suren Oraon, Chandra's father who earns Rs 4,800 a month, is elated over his daughter's success. "I could not afford to provide proper diet to my daughter as required by any sportsperson. Even then, she managed to succeed in the trial. We are now eagerly waiting for the tournament results and it would be a memorable day for us if the national team wins with my daughter in the squad," said Suren.

Shanti, Swapna's mother, is equally enthusiastic. "We are keeping our fingers crossed and want both of them to play well and secure win for the country. It would also bring repute to our tea estate."