Indian Hockey Star Rani Rampal Announces Retirement

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• Oct 25, 2024 | Kabita Pathak

She started playing for her country at 14 and made her Olympic debut in 2008 during the Olympic qualifiers…

Digital Desk:The former Indian women’s hockey team captain, Rani Rampal, bid adieu to international hockey on October 24, 2024, after 16 years of illustrious service. That’s the kind of life she had—full of challenges that she had to conquer and barriers she had to overcome—that made her a role model for many. Rani, originally from a religious family in a tiny town of Haryana, was studying when her father, a wage-earner cart puller, just earned Rs 80 per day. Despite Rani’s family facing financial issues, she followed her passion for the game and joined the local hockey team at the age of six.

 She started playing for her country at 14 and made her Olympic debut in 2008 during the Olympic qualifiers. In the course of her playing career, Rani made 205 goals out of 254 international games for India. Majorie was the captain of the Indian women’s hockey team that aimed for its best-ever finish in the Tokyo Olympics 2021 and stood fourth.

 Looking back at her career, Rani said, ‘I never thought I would play so long.’ It is better to say that I saw poverty from childhood, but my concern was to work for the improvement of my country. For her hard work and determination, she received Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Padma Shri in 2020.

 The Indian hockey team chief has declared her number 28 jersey inactive, and she received Rs 10 lakh annuity for her contribution. Now, Rani has become a national coach for junior players and also became a mentor of Soorma Hockey Club in the new format of Hockey India League.Rani said that it was a bit challenging for her to hang the boots, but she knew it was time to do so and said, “I have no regrets... but I still feel proud that I gave my best to represent the country for many years.