Indian women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal, who first represented the national hockey team at the age of 15, won the Khel Ratna on Friday. Expressing her happiness, Rampal told PTI that the country’s highest honour would act as a stepping stone in her journey to win more laurels.

Rampal has also won the ‘World Games Athlete of the Year award’ in 2019. The Indian hockey player also has a silver and a bronze medal to her name in the Asian Games.

The 25-year-old hockey star from Haryana, who plays as a Forward, was declared as Khel Ratna recipient by the Sports Ministry of India along with Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, table tennis player Manika Batra and Paralympic Gold Medal winner Mariyappan Thangavelu.

 Rampal said, “It is a really proud moment for me and especially for my family.”

Rani said, “The Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award is one of the most prestigious awards that a sportsperson can receive, and I owe this to my coaches, teammates, friends and family for their constant support since the beginning.”

She added, “It is an amazing feeling when your hard work is rewarded, and I believe this award will serve as a great motivation for me and players like me to keep striving for bigger feats and make the country proud.”

Rani also took a moment to wish other recipients of the award and said “I also would like to congratulate all the other award winners too.”

The 25-year-old had helped the Indian national team secure a berth at the Tokyo Olympics, besides leading the team to the final of 2018 Asian Games, where India lost 2-1 to Japan.

Hockey India also congratulated the award winners. Gyanendro Ningombam, officiating president of Hockey India, said “Rani has inspired several youngsters to take up the sport of hockey in India through her fantastic performances throughout her career.”

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the award function will be held virtually on the occasion of the National Sports Day on August 29.