Former Indian women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal who announced her retirement from professional sport, at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, in New Delhi, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (PTI Photo)
A 7-year-old Rani Rampal never thought she’d go on to play for the Indian women’s hockey team for more than a decade. On Thursday, at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi, she brought down the curtains on a glittering career – with its share of highs and lows – as she announced her retirement. And so, the 29-year-old finished her playing career with 254 matches, including the honour of leading India back to the Olympic Games in Rio, and a famous yet heartbreaking fourth-placed finish in Tokyo.
Rani rose from Shahabad, Haryana and made her international debut as a 14-year-old. But her journey to that point was one filled with obstacles. “There was a lot of struggle because my childhood was not that good, but the passion never ended,” the former India captain, who was born to a cart-puller, said. “I just wanted to represent the country. My parents saw a lot of poverty. Mujhe lagta hai waise toh woh gareeb the, par soch unki ameer thi (their thinking was very rich). Because they gave me the chance to go out and play.”
Rani considers playing multiple Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and Asian Games as the high points of her career but there were lows too. Injuries often hampered her, most significantly the one post-Tokyo 2020 that saw her miss a year of action. She did make a comeback at the 2022 Pro League, where she earned a landmark 250th cap. But towards the backend of coach Janneke Schopman’s reign, she couldn’t get back into the side despite stating on multiple occasions she was ready to extend her playing career. She’d last play for India in January 2023.
🌟 Happy Retirement, Rani Rampal! 🌟
From the streets of Shahabad to the pinnacle of Indian women’s hockey, Rani’s journey is one of grit and determination. Debuting at just 15, she led India to unforgettable victories, including the 2010 Asian Games, 2017 Asia Cup gold, and a… pic.twitter.com/x6JlpHwnGx
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 24, 2024
“I had a wonderful career for 15-16 years and everybody has ups and downs in life. I don’t want to say much about that point of time, but from my end I don’t have any regrets about it. At that time also my aim was that whatever I had to do, I had to do it 100%. I even fought for it. I am still so happy, to play 250 times for the country is not easy,” Rani said.
Rani was moulded into a star forward who would go on to score many a memorable goal in India colours, by coach Baldev Singh. “I consider myself lucky that I got a coach like Baldev Sir who guided me in life, apart from being a hockey player, he taught me such things which are still with me in life. Discipline, punctuality, humility. My first hockey stick was given to me by Baldev Sir because our family could not afford any equipment. And senior players too who went on to play for India from Shahabad Markanda – who were my inspiration – also used to help me sometimes. ‘This kid is playing well, let’s give her shoes and sticks’.”
Rani had already taken up the role of mentor of Soorma Hockey Club in the upcoming inaugural women’s edition of Hockey India League. During the auction, she had mentioned how there was still a “keeda” (itch) to continue playing but when the JSW Sport-owned franchise offered her a role on the sidelines to mould younger players, she couldn’t say no. Even before that, she had started her coaching career at the sub-junior level. “I’d just tell the girls that I mentor to believe in themselves, that’s the most important thing at this level,” she said of her coaching style. And if she is able to pass on the “junoon” she had for hockey, she’d be moulding many young stars. But, with Hockey India officially retiring her jersey No 28, there’d be only one Rani Rampal.
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Vinayakk Mohanarangan is Senior Assistant Editor and is based in New Delhi. … Read More
First uploaded on: 24-10-2024 at 20:17 IST
