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Indian ladies’s hockey staff skipper Rani Rampal, who was conferred with Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award on Saturday, feels overwhelmed that Hockey India supplied equal alternatives for each males’s and girls’s groups to carry out and excel. “Over the past one week, since my name was officially announced for the Khel Ratna award, I have been reflecting back on my journey so far and it makes me feel overwhelmed that women’s hockey gets equal importance as the men’s team and a women’s player being recognized with the highest award definitely goes to show the sport is moving in the right direction,” Rani mentioned in a Hockey India launch.
Humbled and honored to obtain the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award. Thank you hon’ble @rashtrapatibhvn sir @KirenRijiju sir @media_sai @hockeyindia coaches, my staff, household and pals who’ve made this potential. Always dreamt about such moments, glad it grew to become a actuality. pic.twitter.com/uLwq6BKiY2
— Rani Rampal (@imranirampal) August 29, 2020
“I thank the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, SAI and Hockey India for giving us all the opportunities to showcase our potential and at the same time recognizing our efforts,” she added, feeling nostalgic about her journey within the sport thus far. For the primary time within the historical past of the National Sports Awards, President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday just about conferred the National Sports and Adventure Award 2020.
President offered Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award, Dhyan Chand Award, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award and Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar.
A report 74 athletes of the nation had been honoured on hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand’s 115th beginning anniversary.
Rani grew to become the primary Indian ladies’s hockey participant to obtain the distinguished Khel Ratna award. She is barely the third hockey participant after Dhanraj Pillay and Sardar Singh to obtain the best award for sporting excellence.
“From when I started to now, many things have changed for the good in women’s hockey. Back when I began playing, the women’s team played very few tournaments. We mostly played major events like Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games but now the scenario has changed so much,” Rani mentioned.
“Hockey India and the management ensure we play tournaments round the year which has contributed tremendously towards our performance improvement over the years and has also helped popularize women’s hockey,” she added.
Akashdeep Singh who acquired the Arjuna award expressed his feelings too.
“I thank everyone who has been part of my journey so far. I have been very fortunate to play for my country along with some of the greatest players in the sport. I also thank Hockey India and SAI for their support and ensuring we are provided with the best facilities to train,” the striker mentioned.
Both Rani and Akashdeep Singh are presently a part of the on-going National Coaching Camp at Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru Campus.
Congratulating the winners, Gyanendro Ningombam, Hockey India Officiating President mentioned, “On behalf of Hockey India, I congratulate Romesh Pathania for winning the Dronacharya award (lifetime achievement), Rani for winning the Khel Ratna Award, Akashdeep Singh and Deepika Thakur for winning the Arjuna award.”
“I also congratulate Jude Felix for winning the Dronacharya award and Ajit Singh for winning the Dhyan Chand lifetime achievement award. Their contribution towards the growth of the sport in India has been tremendous and I wish both Rani and Akashdeep will use this award as a big motivation to continue to do well in the sport and achieve the team’s goals at Tokyo Olympic Games,” he added.
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