ACW 2017: Indian captain Rani wants gold in her third Asia Cup

Most experienced player in the Indian line up here in Kakagamihara, Rani Rampal wants nothing less than gold in her third Asia Cup attempt.

Rani is the only player in the Indian team have made the distinction of playing third time in Asia Cup, and she is well aware of her personal feat in her long hockey career.

“I am happy I could play my third Asia Cup. In the first Asia Cup in Bangkok, we won the Silver. More importantly we defeated far higher ranked South Korea in the semifinal. That ensured us the 2010 World Cup”.

“However, we fell short of overcoming China, then ranked two in the world, in the battle for the Gold”.

Korea revenged us in the next Asia Cup in Hong-Kong. It was the semifinal we lost badly, i think”

Vividly remembering all the sequence of victories and defeats, Rani feels strongly that the present team will be able to improve the hue of the medal.

“We want to improve upon the Bangkok show in Japan here. The girls are also determined and committed. I will be personally satisfied if we win the Gold here. We will go all put toward the end,” opined the veteran on the sidelines of second pitch of the Kawasaki stadium here in Kakamigahara.

Next five days will determine whether Rani’s hopes, and also Indians hopes, are real or not.