Former India Captain Rani Rampal to Mentor in HIL Instead of Playing
Rani Rampal, former captain of the Indian women’s hockey team, waited for years to play in the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL)
Rani Rampal, former captain of the Indian women’s hockey team, waited for years to play in the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL). However, now that the league is finally set to launch, she will not be participating as a player but will take on the role of mentor and coach for the Soorma Hockey Club of Punjab and Haryana. Rani, who famously led India to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, expressed her excitement about this new opportunity, stating that hockey has always been her passion and she is eager to serve the sport in any capacity. During the HIL women’s auction, Rani shared that despite her efforts to return to the national team ahead of the Paris Olympics, she was unable to make a comeback. Nonetheless, she is thrilled to be part of the coaching staff in the league. The 30-year-old Padma Shri awardee, with 134 goals in 212 matches for India, admitted that it was difficult to step away from playing but feels the time is right to embrace this new challenge. When asked about her decision not to participate in the league as a player, Rani emphasized the struggles female athletes face and acknowledged that while the desire to play never fades, difficult decisions must be made.
She has yet to officially announce her retirement, stating that she will make a final decision after the league. Rani also spoke about India’s failure to qualify for the Paris Olympics, calling it a setback but highlighting the importance of learning from defeats. She believes the women’s league can help build a strong pool of players for future competitions, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and emphasized the need to aim for gold at the 2026 Asian Games. Rani praised the appointment of Harendra Singh as the coach of the women’s team, noting his ability to connect with players due to his understanding of Indian culture and language. She believes his leadership will help the team perform well in upcoming competitions. Although the purse for the first season of the Women’s HIL is modest, Rani remains optimistic that the league will grow and benefit players from humble backgrounds financially. The league features four teams: Soorma Hockey Club, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, Delhi SG Pipers, and Odisha Warriors, with a cap of ₹2 crore for the auction.
