♦ Indian women’s hockey legend Rani Rampal has announced her retirement as player on 24 October 2024. Rani played 254 international matches and scored 120 goals since making her debut at just 14 years old in 2008 during the Olympic qualifiers in Kazan, becoming the youngest woman to represent India at the senior level in hockey. 

♦Rani also played a key role in the Indian team that won a silver medal at the Asia Cup in 2009 and helped secure a bronze at the Asian Games in 2014.

♦ In honour of Rani Rampal’s remarkable contributions to Indian hockey, Hockey India retired her iconic No. 28 jersey later in the day.

♦ Rani was named the coach of India’s under-17 team by Hockey India in 2023. 

♦ She received the Arjuna Award (2016), the World Games Athlete of the Year (2019), the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, and the Padma Shri (2020).