Bhubaneswar: August 17: Rani Rampal, Captain of India Women Hockey Team, thanked to Odisha and its Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the support they are getting since last 2 years from Odisha. She said, it is certainly motivating. She added, not only Hockey, States should come out to sponsor different Games and Sports, which can encourage the sports persons to do better & better and also, more & more children & youths shall show their interests for Sports & Games.
Rani Rampal hails Odisha
” Odisha has set an example for the other states by promoting hockey. Apart from hockey, the state has also created infrastructure for others sports as well. Other states should adopt one sport each for the promotion and development of all kind of sports in our country,” Rani said.
Also, she thanked the whole India for giving utmost love, affection and respect to both Indian Men’s & Women’s Hockey Team, which is really encouraging for all of us. She added, also this sort of encouragement will lead us to perform better,
today interacted with Media Persons here at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Answering a question ‘Why Indian Women Hockey Team could not convert the Penalty Corners in the league matches, but did it in Quarter Final & Semi-Final Match ?, Rani said, ‘We have to work it out after the league matches, which help us to convert the Penalty Corners in Quarter Final & Semi-Final Match.
Speaking on the next mission, Indian Captain said, ‘Next target is to do well in Women’s Asian Champions Trophy and this will help us to qualify for World Cup’. Also, we shall have to play tournaments like Commonwealth Hockey Championship.
What was the difference between the team played for Rio Olympics and the current team which played Tokyo Olympics in terms of fitness and skill ? Rani said, ‘Both are important to perform better. This time, we work out a lot to be fit with the climatic condition and also, skill wise, we are trained better’.
She also spoke in favour of holding a hockey league for both men’s and women’s teams, which will boost the performance of the players.
In Tokyo, the women’s hockey team‘s dream of securing a maiden Olympic medal remained unfulfilled after they lost 3-4 against Great Britain in the bronze medal play-off match, their best ever performance at the Olympic Games.
