Indian rugby star Mohit Khatri aims for Olympic qualification

Mohit Khatri, a 22‑year‑old from Kundli village in Haryana's Sonipat district, has risen from school‑level rugby to the Indian national team. Introduced to the sport by his elder brother and former India captain Vikas Khatri, Mohit joined the Delhi Hurricanes club where he learned the fundamentals and progressed to state and national competitions.

After early defeats, he won his first gold medal at the School Nationals in 2015 and later secured a place in the senior national squad. He now targets qualification for rugby sevens at the upcoming Olympic Games. The athlete has been supported by the Sports Authority of India and the Indian Rugby Federation, receiving a postal department job under the sports quota.

Khatri says, “I used to play football with my friends, but once I tried rugby I fell in love with the game and kept working hard to earn the India jersey.” His ambition highlights the growing profile of rugby in a country traditionally dominated by other sports.