5 Inspiring Things You Need To Know About Rani Rampal, Captain Of The Indian Women’s Hockey Team

In January 2020, the Indian women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal became the very first hockey player to win the title of World Games Athlete of the Year. Apart from that, Rani is also the proud recipient of the Padma Shri award. Rani’s journey, from a child who could not afford a hockey stick to becoming the captain of the women’s hockey team and receiving coveted accolades, is nothing short of inspirational. But that’s not all, the trailblazer has come a long way, and here are a few things that you should know about her journey. 

5 Motivational & Inspirational Things About Rani Rampal

Here are 5 things about Rani’s journey that prove that nothing is impossible, if you put your mind to it.

She Couldn’t Afford To Buy A Hockey Stick

Growing up, Rani did not have the means to buy a hockey stick. “There was a hockey academy near my home, so I’d spend hours watching players practice–I really wanted to play. Papa would earn Rs.80 a day and couldn’t afford to buy me a stick.” Every day, she’d request the coach to teach her but he’d reject her saying she was malnourished.

Her Fam Didn’t Allow Her To Train ‘Cuz They Didn’t Want Her To Wear A Skirt 

After the coach agreed to train her, her family did not allow her to get enrolled at the academy because of the uniform. They said, “‘Ladkiya ghar ka kaam hi karti hai. Hum tumhe skirt pehen kar khelne nahi denge.’ However, she pleaded for one chance and promised them that if she failed, she’d quit. That’s how her family finally gave in and the rest is history. 

Everyday Challenges

Since her family did not have an alarm clock at home, waking up early for training sessions in the morning was a challenge. However, her mother would stay awake the entire night to wake her daughter up in the morning. Nothing like maa ka pyaar, right? 

Fierce Determination To Make It

At the academy, each player needed to bring in 500 ml of milk every day and consume it in front of the coach. This was done by the academy so that they were sure of the girls getting their daily nutrition. However, since Rani’s family could only afford milk worth 200 ml, so she would mix the milk with water and drink it. 

Relatives Said ‘Chori Ki Shaadi Kara Do’

After representing the state and participating in several major championships, Rani finally got the call to play at the national level when she was fifteen years old. While talking to a leading daily, Rani said, “Despite getting the chance to play at the national level, my relatives would only ask me when I was planning on getting married. But Papa told me to play until my heart’s content. With my family’s support, I focused on doing my best for India, and eventually, I became captain of the Indian hockey team!” 

Kudos to Rani Rampal for breaking barriers and achieving her goals. We hope that she continues to inspire and encourage us, always!

Featured Image: Instagram