'Every Player Waits For Right Moment': Rani Rampal Reflects On Retirement, Career, Next Innings

Motivated by her desire to tackle the challenges she faced as a player, former India hockey captain Rani is committed to uplifting Indian women's hockey in her new role. She opened up to Outlook about her retirement, saying, 바카라�I바카라�ve given 16 years of my life to this sport 바카라� my childhood, my youth and everything in between. Hockey has shaped me into who I am; how can I ever walk away? I바카라�ll always be here as a mentor, guiding the next generation.바카라�

Rani is just 29, and when asked about retiring at such an early age, she said, 바카라�This is a well-thought-out decision, and I believe every player waits for the right moment. The time I played, I played with pride. It바카라�s a surreal feeling to think about it. I am getting goosebumps to even think about my retirement and my career.바카라�

She added, 바카라�Hockey mein bohot kuch baaki hai (There바카라�s a lot left in hockey), and I want to focus on those areas, especially where young girls need support."

Rani made her international debut in 2008 at just 14 years old during the Olympic qualifiers, becoming the youngest hockey player ever fielded by India. Over her remarkable career, she scored 205 goals in 254 international matches.

A clinical forward with a knack for scoring crucial goals, Rani is now focused on a new goal: becoming a mentor. 바카라�This decision is not impulsive,바카라� she emphasizes, as she seeks to fill the void she noticed as a player. Having experienced firsthand what the Indian hockey system lacked, Rani believes that players need mental conditioning in addition to physical training. She is determined to provide the support she felt was missing during her career.

바카라�Mental conditioning was barely addressed during my time. We were strong tactically and technically, but mentally, it was easy for us to crumble. Hockey isn바카라�t just about physical strength; so much happens in the mind,바카라� Rani said.

With a spark in her eyes, she added, 바카라�As a mentor, my primary focus will be on developing mental toughness. I want to be there for the players, helping them believe in themselves and reach their full potential. It바카라�s crucial for me to understand what they바카라�re feeling and what they바카라�re going through. I want to be the mentor who is attuned to what바카라�s happening in a player바카라�s mind and in their family life. My goal is to be the change I needed in mentorship and player conditioning when I was playing.바카라�

Rani knows all too well the heartbreak of finishing fourth, from the 2018 Commonwealth Games to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Those moments still keep her awake at night, especially the Tokyo experience, which weighs heavily on her mind. 바카라�There바카라�s this restlessness, this regret, but life goes on,바카라� she reflects.

Hiding her pain behind a bright smile, she adds, 바카라�Finishing fourth is the worst thing an athlete can face because you know you could have been on the podium. You find yourself wishing, 바카라�Oh, if we could have done this differently.바카라� In the end, it바카라�s a setback and a learning opportunity. We should all learn from it and move on. But I바카라�d be lying if I said I don바카라�t still think about it. Ek tees si hai (There바카라�s this twinge). I feel like I바카라�ve moved on, but sometimes, before I go to sleep, it still creeps back into my mind.바카라�

The Tokyo Games were meant to be a game-changer for Rani, but the year that followed, 2022, turned out to be one she바카라�d rather forget in her 16-year career. Battling injuries, she faced setback after setback. Just when she thought she was healed and ready to return, she found herself sidelined for the World Cup, where India finished ninth, and the Commonwealth Games, where they bagged bronze.

At that time, she openly criticized the decisions made, stating, 바카라�The best people who can provide answers are the chief coach, Janneke Schopman, or the selectors because I don바카라�t know the answer,바카라� as reported by the Times of India.

Her absence was quite glaring, and the void she left cost India dearly. While the team played aggressive hockey in her leadership, it started becoming a problem to score goals without her. Even in the Tokyo Olympics, she scored the first goal for the team. In the end, India failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics, which was a sad turn of events just three years after coming so close to clinching an Olympic medal.

Asked how she felt about 2022 now, Rani, being the queen that she is, said, "I have had a beautiful, long career, so I don't feel the need to dwell on that year. Everything teaches you something, whether good or bad, and I바카라�ve learned a lot. I am grateful for all the lessons, even those I had no clue about. I바카라�m proud of the career I바카라�ve had, and life is all about karma. So, yes, I am happy I gave my 100%.바카라�

She spoke about coping with exclusions and injuries, saying, 바카라�It is very hard; it is easier said than done. We are all humans before we are sportspeople. You have feelings and emotions, and it is natural to feel doubtful, wondering if you are even worthy or if it is the right path. But time is a great healer. You need to take a break, step away from the everyday grind, and always fight back.바카라�

Looking back at her career, Rani highlighted her three best moments: 바카라�The first one would be when I received the Indian jersey; I was just 14 years old. Then, playing in two Olympics, and lastly, when I was awarded the Khel Ratna.바카라�

She also looked back at the three worst experiences, starting from the 2016 Summer Games where India finished 12th. Then came the heartbreak of the Tokyo Olympics and, finally, the injury period in 2022.

Rani will now be donning a new hat, this time as coach and mentor to the Soorma Hockey Club of the Hockey India League (HL).

When asked about the progress towards gender equality, considering the disparity between the number of clubs in HIL 바카라� four for women and eight for men 바카라� she reflected on her playing days. 바카라�When I was playing, it was a dream to have a women바카라�s league. This is the very first, and beginning is always difficult. I바카라�m confident that in future editions there will be more teams. I바카라�m happy to be part of this historic moment.바카라�

Rani ended the interview with the same smile she probably had when she first started playing. She was happy to retire at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, the home of hockey in Delhi, and her autograph still includes her jersey number, 28, which has now been retired alongside the 바카라�Queen바카라� of Indian hockey.