Stadium named after hockey star Rani

NEW DELHI: The India hockey team’s player Rani Rampal has become the first woman in the sport to have a stadium named after her, in Rae Bareli.

The MCF Rae Bareli has renamed the hockey stadium as ‘Rani’s Girls Hockey Turf’.

Rani shared pictures on her social media handles, where she is seen interacting with the players and inaugurating the stadium along with other staff members.

“Words seem too less to express my happiness and gratitude as I share that the MCF Rae Bareli has renamed the hockey stadium to ‘Rani’s Girls Hockey Turf’ to honour my contribution to hockey,” Rani wrote on Twitter.

Expressing her gratitude further, she said: “It is a proud and emotional moment for me as I become the first woman hockey player to have a stadium to my name. I dedicate this to the Indian women’s hockey team and I hope this inspires the next generation of women hockey players!”

Rani made a comeback to the India team during the tour of South Africa earlier this year, when she was included in a 22-member squad.

Rani was returning to the squad after last playing against Belgium in the FIH Women’s Hockey Pro League 2021-22, a tournament where she won her 250th cap for India.

The 28-year-old had been dealing with an injury post the Tokyo Olympics and was subsequently left out of the World Cup and Commonwealth Games 2022 squads.