Former India women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal hopes the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) can lay the foundation for young girls to qualify for the national team for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane and beyond. . Rani, who recently spoke to SAI Media in Rohtak, believes that the first edition of the women’s HIL “will go a long way in the future”, just as the women’s version of the Indian Premier League did in cricket. The inaugural Women’s Hockey India League 2024-25, scheduled in Ranchi from January 12 to 26, will feature four teams – Delhi SG Pipers, Odisha Warriors, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers and Soorma Hockey Club.
Rani Rampal will serve as a mentor and coach for Punjab Soorma Hockey Club. This will be her first role as a support staff member. The 30-year-old from Haryana, who has played over 250 international caps, feels that HIL has come at the right time at a time when women’s hockey is attempting to turn things around after failing to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“There may be four teams only this time, but it took a long time to start the league. Hockey India should be commended for this,” Rani told SAI Media, adding that this is the first important step towards coaching the national team. He added that it will be. afternoon.
“The men’s hockey team won back-to-back bronze medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics because the Men’s Hockey India League laid the foundations a few years ago. Now, thanks to the introduction of the Women’s HIL, we have many talented young women ready to compete in 2032 and 2036. “This platform will be a huge success as they showcase their skills at the 2018 Olympics,” he added.
HIL began in 2013 with six men’s teams. It played for five years before being shut down, mostly for commercial reasons. The women’s league was revived after 7 years.
Recalling the success of the Women’s Indian Premier League (IPL) in terms of the reputation of women’s cricket, Rani continued, “No one knew much about women’s cricket, but now we can see how the sport has become so popular in the country. With the IPL (WPL) people got to know about it and started following the sports manifold.”
With PR Sreejesh and Rani Rampal, two veterans of Indian hockey taking up coaching duties in recent years, Rani wished ‘Wall’ Sreejesh every success he would bring as coach of the Indian junior hockey team.
“Sreejesh has almost 20 years of international experience. The junior team will do very well as they will know how to perform in high-level pressure situations,” Rani said.
When it comes to coaching mindset, Rani said she and Sreejesh have a few things in common. “I also want to share the same knowledge and experience with young people during women’s HIL so they can benefit emotionally and mentally. We need to bring out the best in them.”
(Except for the title, this article has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published as a press release)
Topics mentioned in this article
