Despite being left out of Asian Games probables, former India hockey captain and star striker Rani Rampal, who is currently coaching sub-junior national team in Rourkela, still harbours dreams of playing for the country
Former India hockey captain Rani Rampal (left) trains a young player during a camp for strikers in Bhubaneswar recently
Normally, for most professional sportspersons, the coach’s role comes around post retirement. But in the case of former India hockey captain and Olympian Rani Rampal, 28, it has come early. She stresses she’s still an active player and harbours hopes of making a comeback to the national team sooner rather than later. In the recent past however, the mercurial striker has inexplicably been left out of the Indian team and that trend continued recently when the list of Asian Games probables was announced without her name in it.
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Rampal is understandably disappointed, but she does not want her disappointment to rub off on the youngsters she is coaching. Rampal recently conducted a five-day camp for young female strikers jointly organised by Odisha’s Sports and Youth Services Department and the Naval Tata Hockey High Performance Centre at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. After that she headed to Rourkela, where she is currently holding a sub junior national camp. “I accepted this coaching role because I felt that just because I'm being denied the opportunity to play for my country, I don’t have the right to deny these young girls a chance to hone their skills as they dream of playing for India one day,” Rampal, who led the country to its best ever finish at the Olympics—fourth place at Tokyo in 2021 —told mid-day from Bhubaneswar.
Former India hockey captain Rani Rampal interacts with young players during a camp for strikers in Bhubaneswar recently
“When I did not get picked for the Indian team despite finishing as top-scorer at the National Games earlier this year, I was distraught. But after some time, I thought that there is no point sulking when I have an opportunity to be close to the game by coaching, so I accepted the sub-junior India coaching role. Now, again I’ve not been picked [for Team India] and no reason has been given to me. But I believe in karma. I came into Indian hockey from a very humble beginning and I’ve always been taught to work hard to get something, so I will continue to work hard. Hopefully, one day I will return to the India fold,” added Rampal, a Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee.
Also Read: Rani Rampal sidelined in senior women's hockey probables for Asian Games
Speaking of her approach as a coach, Rampal said she is very hands-on. “My style of coaching is very practical. I like my students to ask questions about the game and try to suggest solutions because unless you ask questions, you will never learn. I’m teaching the girls certain aspects like positioning and creating scoring opportunities. I’ve stressed on the importance of making circle penetrations count. You can have 50 circle entries but if you get nothing out of it, it’s pointless. I’d prefer you make just five circle entries instead, but in each, you either get a long corner, a penalty corner or a shot on goal,” explained Rampal, who has taken special leave from job as High Performance Manager at the Sports Authority of India, Patiala, to embark on her coaching journey.
Rampal believes all top sportspersons should take some time off and offer coaching tips to youngsters. “Kids are passionate and the grassroot system is crucial for any sport. Youngsters look up to their sporting heroes as superheroes, but when they spend time with them, interact with them and learn from them, that’s when they realise that these icons are also human beings just like them. This then inspires them to work hard and achieve what their heroes have achieved,” Rampal signed off.
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