Former Indian women’s hockey captain Rani Rampal has officially declared her retirement from professional hockey. The 29-year-old athlete has confirmed her decision to step away from playing to adopt a mentorship role in the Women’s Hockey India League. Rampal leaves behind an impressive legacy, having represented India in 254 matches and scoring 205 goals since her debut at just 14 years old in 2008.
A historic journey for Rani Rampal
Rani Rampal captained the Indian hockey team during their historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “It’s been an outstanding journey. I never thought I would play for so long for India. I have seen a lot of poverty since childhood, but my focus was always to do something and represent the country.” Her contributions to the sport have been recognised with prestigious accolades, including the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award in 2020 and the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour.
Rani Rampal’s career
Rani made her international debut at the young age of 14 in 2008 during the Olympic qualifiers, becoming the youngest hockey player to represent India at that time. By the age of 15, she was part of the Indian team that participated in the 2010 World Cup, where she scored seven goals, helping India achieve its best performance since 1978 and securing the ninth position in the world rankings.
Throughout her career, Rani has showcased impressive versatility, playing both as a forward and a midfielder. She has been a part of the Indian team in several key victories, including winning the silver medal at the 2017 Women’s Asian Cup and the silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, where she also served as India’s flag-bearer during the closing ceremony.
Rani Rampal’s new role
Rani Rampal has joined the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) as the mentor and coach of Soorma Hockey Club, representing Punjab and Haryana, which will make its debut later this year.
“Hockey is my passion, and I played my entire career with that in mind. It has always been my intention to embrace any opportunity to serve Indian hockey. The sport has always been at the forefront of my thoughts,” Rani shared in a recent interview.
Rani Rampal in 2020 Olympics
Rani’s leadership was particularly apparent during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she captained the Indian women’s hockey team to a historic fourth-place finish, marking the team’s highest Olympic standing to date.
Her outstanding achievements have been recognised with numerous prestigious awards. In 2016, she received the Arjuna Award, a significant honour in Indian sports. In 2020, she was awarded the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, India’s highest sporting honour, as well as the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest national honour in India.
Additionally, Rani was named the “Best Young Player of the Tournament” at the 2010 Women’s Hockey World Cup and the “Player of the Tournament” at the 2013 Junior World Cup, where India secured its first-ever bronze medal in the event.
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