Rani Rampal: Olympics will change our lives for better

The 25-year-old forward spoke about the impact of hockey on their lives.

Encouraging youngsters to pursue hockey, the Indian women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal expressed that the sport has made members of her team financially independent at a very young age and they are in a better position to take care of their families' needs.

"I think ten years or 15 years ago if someone said, we will take up hockey as a career they would either laugh or bluntly ask us how will that help make a living. But things have changed drastically in the sport now. With Hockey India hosting regular national championships, aspiring players get an opportunity to show their talent and consistent performance at the top level could assure a player of a job as well as a chance to make it to the national team," explained Rani Rampal.

With the women's team winning medals at some of the top tournaments in the past like the silver medal at the Asian Games and also qualifying for back-to-back Olympic Games, they have been rewarded with awards as well. She said, "I believe our improved performance has a lot to do with the professional system laid out by the federation. We have a good junior program too which identifies talented players."

"Young talent like Lalremsiami and Salima Tete, who won the Silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Buenos Aires, have made a very smooth transition into the senior program. Ensuring we (women's team) also play equal or more number of international tournaments as the men's team gives us the right exposure that adds to the confidence of these youngsters."

Emphasizing on the importance of timely rewards, Rani Rampal, who won a total sum of ₹ 35 lakhs earlier this year for winning the Dhruv Batra Player of the Year Award (Women) and the prestigious World Games Athlete of the Year 2019 award, said, "I don't think any other federation gives away cash awards of this magnitude. For a young player like Lalremsiami who also won a total cash purse of Rs 15 lakhs at the Hockey India Annual Awards makes a huge difference because it takes away the financial burden her family is facing especially after her father passed away last year.

"Since many of the players come from difficult economic backgrounds such monetary support definitely helps and we can focus purely on hockey. Almost everyone in our team has a job and playing hockey has made us financially independent at a very young age."

She further said that if they perform well in the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games then it could be a life-changing moment for the players.

"Look at how the lives of PV Sindhu and Saina Nehwal have changed after doing well at the Olympic Games. They are not only sporting icons in the country but they are also self-sufficient, independent women and it's because of their achievements in sports. I wish similar success for our team and we are working towards it. We have that fire and hunger to excel and we know doing well at the Olympics will change our lives for the better," Rani Rampal concluded.