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The hockey star Rani Rampal earned herself the moniker 'Olympian Rani' as her team awaits an Olympic nomination this year. She was instrumental in winning the silver medal for the Indian team in the Asia Cup held in Nov 2009. After playing with India's national team at 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2010 Asian Games, Rani Rampal was included in the FIH Women's All Star Team of 2010.
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Rani’s Shahabad is a town with a rigid, feudal society where the system of khap panchayat still rules.
Here's an interesting fact about @imranirampal, India’s Captain at the Women's #HWL2017 SF in Johannesburg starting from 8th July. pic.twitter.com/7sTyPaM76N
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 4, 2017
We bring you ten things to know her better:
- Rani was adjudged “The Top Goal Scorer” and the “Young Player of the Tournament” at the 2009 Champion's Challenge Tournament. At the 2010 Women’s Hockey World Cup, she scored a total of seven goals, which placed India in the ninth position in World Women's hockey rankings. This is India's best performance since 1978. She is the only Indian to be nominated for the FIH Women's Young Player of the Year Award, 2010.
- She’s India’s finest forward in women’s hockey. She is a striker who often doubles as a mid-fielder. Her electric speed, superior stick work, ball sense and confidence have won her many accolades and matches.
- She is only 20-years-old. She made her senior India debut when she was 14, making her the youngest player in the Indian team. In comparison, Sachin Tendulkar made his India debut when he was 16.
- In the recent World Hockey League semifinals in Belgium, she scored the equaliser and the final sudden-death goal in a must-win match against Italy, before scoring the win against Japan in the last do-or-die encounter. Her decisive interventions meant India finished fifth.
Shahabad in Haryana produces the single biggest assembly line of women’s hockey players in India.
There is an inherent bias in Indian hockey, Indian sport and the Indian attitude in general. In India, daughters are not encouraged to play and money is tough to find.
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Also Read: Rani Rampal To Lead Women’s Team In Hockey World League Semi-Finals