For the first time under Rani’s captaincy, the Indian team has also reached a career-best 9th position in the FIH World Rankings. Rani is the first Indian female player to be named as the World Sports Athlete of the Year.
Rani Rampal, captain of the Indian women’s hockey team, has been nominated by Hockey India (HI) for the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna. Apart from them, Vandana Kataria, Monica, and Harmanpreet Singh have been nominated for the Arjuna Award.
Under the captaincy of Rani, the team has won the silver medal in the Women’s Asia Cup 2017, 2018 Asian Games, and it is under their captaincy that the team has qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. During this time the Indian team also reached its best ranking nine in the world rankings.
HI President Mohammad Mushtaq said, “Sardar Singh Rajiv Gandhi was the last hockey player to win the Khel Ratna. Rani has set new benchmarks in women’s hockey and we are proud of him.”
The consideration period for India’s highest sporting honor Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award is between 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2019.
For the first time under Rani’s captaincy, the Indian team has also reached a career-best 9th position in the FIH World Rankings. Rani is the first Indian female player to be named as the World Sports Athlete of the Year. Rani has also received the Arjuna Award (2016) and Padma Shri (2020). Rani is the first athlete to receive the World Games Athlete of the Year award.
