Sport

Battling bulls shine on first Indian tour


19/12/2003

NOT quite as impressive as the England Rugby Union world champions but the UK's only Asian union squad by no means disgraced themselves on a tour of India.
Four members of the pioneering South Asia Bulls rugby team have returned from the sub continent where they participated in the All-India Games rugby union event.
Captain Junaid Malik from Halifax, Ikram Butt from Bradford, Jag Johal from London and Sanjay Syal from Newcastle (pictured right) played three games during the event which featured 16 teams.
They won 50-0 against Bangalore and 72-0 against Greater Mumbai Police before being beaten 19-17 in the finals by a Sri Lankan team.
The event, which, was held at the Bombay Gymkhana Club was also attended by Bollywood celebrities Vinod Khanna and his actor son Akshaye Khanna and even Liz Hurley's millionaire boyfriend Arun Nayar.
The South Asia Bulls which compromises of players from the different South Asian communities across the UK, was established two years ago to combat racism in rugby, build bridges between Asian and white communities and provide role models for young people.
The Bulls are backed by Sporting Equals and the Youth Centre for Sport, Culture and Arts and is sponsored by the Asian Jewel Awards.
They will be playing in Pakistan in February 2004.
South Asia Bulls founder member and former UK rugby league professional Ikram Butt said: "We were really pleased with our contribution.
"The trip was part of our ongoing efforts to promote social and cultural cohesion and religious tolerance, and we forged a meaningful partnership with representatives from various South Asian countries during the visit."


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