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India have continued their preparations for the impending Asian Games and Commonwealth Games with a successful 10-day training tour.

Over the last two weekends the side have been victorious at two tournaments in both Turkey and England. If follows up on their visit to New Zealand in April for the inaugural IRANZ Rugby Sevens clinic.

The inaugural Istanbul Sevens, played out at the city’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium, saw a number of local and overseas teams attend a hugely anticipated event.

India and the Dubai Frogs proved the class acts of the two-day event and both comfortably qualifying for the final. The Frogs especially impressed in a 61-0 hammering of the Samson Sharks in their last-four clash.

With €3000 up for grabs for the winners, the Dubai outfit started the stronger in the final, taking an early lead. But India, who have been training together for the last year, bounced back to deservedly win 28-14.

A week later and Usaia Buimaiwai’s squad headed to England’s Bradford and Bingley RFC for the Bees International 7s. Facing a Yorkshire Select team in the final, India again had to come from behind eventually running out 26-24 victors with their superior fitness a key to the back-to-back wins.

India’s next assignment will the Shanghai Sevens (4-5 Sept) which forms part of the IRB’s Asian Sevens Series.