K. ARUMUGAM

Indian hockey’s queen Rani Rampal, who led India to the first-ever Olympic semifinal in Tokyo, announced her retirement from competitive hockey today. Thankfully, Hockey India too joined her party, and not only presented her a purse of Rs.10 lac but also ‘retired’ her jersey No.28 in order to

immortalize her contribution to Indian hockey. A short video depicting various feat of her impeccable career was shown at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium before the prize distribution for the PFC Germany-India Bilateral Series. Mansuk Mandaviya, Union Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs, honoured her before visiting German team was given away the Trophy for winning the Series.

Rani made her international debut in Kazan, Russia, at the Beijing Olympic Qualifier, 2008. Since then to Tokyo Olympics, she has established her credentials as a game changer for Indian hockey. As she herself mentioned in the party that she threw in the evening, 2010 World Cup and 2013 Junior World Cup made her stardom.

Rani Rampal when made her debut 2008

She was declared Most promising youngster of the 2010 World Cup and India won its only one bronze at the Monchengladbach Junior World Cup.

Rani has played 200 plus matches for India while scoring more than 200 goals. The one goal that she struck at Bhubaneswar in the Olympic Qualifier Series in the repeat match, and the manner she & her team celebrated  — throwing open her both arms even as she just knelt on the turf — has turned out to be iconic. India made it to the Tokyo Olympics with this most wanted goal that shut out USA for Tokyo.

Three years ago, her solitary goal got India a place in the Rio Olympics too, the goal coming against Japan in a swift ‘steal the ball’ moment from a sweeper back of Japan.

No surprise therefore Rani was the face of Indian hockey in the decade. India was happy to honour with maximum awards – starting from sports Arjuna to Khel Ratna and civilian honour Padamshree.

She was mainly out of Indian team after her heroic Tokyo extravaganza due to niggling injury and made her intention clear to be back in the national team. Barring a token tour, her comeback did not happen. However, she kept highly appreciable levels of maturity in those difficult spells and maintained dignity.

Coach MK Kaushik with Indian team captain Rani Rampal whom he gave first international chance in 2008

Who is who of Indian sporting diaspora were present in a party that she threw yesterday evening in India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Top the list is many times world boxing champion Mary Kom who was joined by other Olympic medallist boxers Lovlina Borgohain & Vijender Singh. Hockey India president Dr. Dilip Tirkey, former greats MM Somaya, Dhanraj Pillay, Sardar Singh, present Indian team stalwarts Manpreet Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad, Indian women’s team Chief Coach Harendra Singh, Dronacharya awardee AK Bansal, former physio of women’s national teams Dr.Sonika, her life time stick partner Sanjay Kohli of Rakshak brand, Sumit, MD and Rahul Trehan, CEO of IOS, who managed her profile, IOA stalwart Adille Sumariwalla were among those who present on the grand occasion.

The hero of the evening of course was none other then her mentor coach Sardar Baldev Singh, who spotted and groomed her at Shahbad Markanda, a hitherto unknown hockey centre in Haryana. It was fitting that she invited him not only for the function but also whenever she got any award.

Though chose to retire, Rani’s next avtar has started as a coach, mentor in HIL etc. “Hockey in me will never die. Whatever I got in my entire career is because of hockey. I will continue to live with it”, she said. 

Note: I have the honour of overing her entire career including her debut tournament Kazan Olympic Qualifier to effectively the last, Tokyo Olympics. And also receiving my only award from President of India when she was awarded Arjuna.