Khel Ratna nomination is overwhelming: Hockey skipper Rani Rampal

Ecstatic at being minated for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award by national federation, Indian women's hockey team captain Rani on Wednesday said it will motivate her to achieve more at global st. Hockey India on Tuesday also anunced mination of both Vandana Katariya and Monika from women's team and Harmanpreet Singh from men's squ for Arjuna Award.

'Khel Ratna mination is overwhelming'

"I am overwhelmed that Hockey India has recommended my name for top award and ir continued support always encours team and I to do well," Rani, who is a recipient of Pma Shri Award, said in a press release issued by Hockey India.

"I congratulate both Vandana and Monika, y are very deserving of this recognition. I also feel that two players being minated goes to show that women's hockey is moving in right direction and this will only motivate us to do better on world st," she ded.

period of consideration for Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is between January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019. In this while, Rani led team to historic victories in Women's Asia Cup in 2017, silver at 2018 Asian Games and played a critical role in FIH Olympic Qualifiers in 2019 by scoring deciding goal that helped in India's qualification for Tokyo Olympics. Indian team also climbed to a career-best FIH ranking of .9. 

While some of se feats will be cherished by team for a long time, Rani feels turning point for her was team's first-ever appearance at Olympic Games.

"I personally feel Rio Olympic Games was a turning point for us. We were dismal in our performance and we knew we h to really work hard if we wanted to do well at world st or even at Asian level.

"Having that singular focus in mind, we started working towards being kwn as a tough team, a winning team and t as underdogs," she said without mincing words," she said.  

Rani credited coach Sjoerd Marijne for making team a confident unit. "Having a brilliant support staff led by Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne who always encourd us to 'Speak Up and be Bold' started showing in our game. A lot of credit for our success goes to Support Staff who always backed us matter what."