Rani Rampal Left Out of Asian Games Hockey Squad

After questioning her exclusion despite recent strong performances, Rani Rampal was left out of the 34-player probables squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, set to begin on September 23.

Just days after being appointed as the coach of the Indian U-17 women’s team by Hockey India, former captain Rani Rampal was surprised to find her name missing from the list of 34 potential players for the Asian Games.

Rampal had expressed her frustration on Thursday, demanding an explanation from national head coach Janneke Schopman for her consistent exclusion despite her noteworthy recent performances. Although she accepted the coaching role, Rampal asserted that she was not retiring from competitive play.

“I am not retiring since I know I still have more to give to the sport as a player. I have this determination to persevere. If I had given up, it would have been after the Olympics,” Rampal stated during a Hockey India event earlier in the week.

Schopman mentioned in a statement ahead of the training camp, “We have demonstrated our progress as a team in recent competitions and are in a constant learning mode. The upcoming camp is crucial as we prepare for the Hangzhou Asian Games, a potential gateway to the Paris Olympics 2024.”

The training camp will take place in Bengaluru and run until September 18. The list of probables includes goalkeepers Savita, Rajani Etimarpu, Bichu Devi Kharibam, and Bansari Solanki.

India’s Asian Games campaign is set to commence on September 27. The team is placed in Pool A alongside Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, and Singapore. Remarkably, India recently secured victory in the 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation – International Tournament in Barcelona, defeating host Spain 3-0.
Re-reported from the article originally published in Sportstar