‘I am not retiring’: Rani Rampal accepts to be coach of U-17 team but lashes out against her sacking as a player from Indian hockey team | Hockey News

Former India captains Rani Rampal and Sardar Singh were named as coaches of India’s soon-to-be-formed under-17 teams, Hockey India announced on Thursday.
However, as she took on a new position, Rani said she hadn’t moved on from her earlier role – as a national team player.
Lashing out at the treatment meted out to her chief coach Janneke Schopman, Rani – who last played for India in January and has been axed from the core group – said she is yet to get an explanation from the team management.
“Whatever happened with me in the last two years wasn’t right. I came back from an injury, was the top scorer at the National Games but wasn’t picked. The best person who can answer this is the Chief Coach or the selectors because I don’t know the answer,” she said.

Hockey India today announced a special coaching camp and international matches for the Indian Sub-Junior Men’s and Women’s Team. The camp will see former Indian Hockey Captain Sardar Singh, and former India Women’s Captain Rani taking up the mentorship and Coach’s role.
The… pic.twitter.com/71RvN7lBao
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 10, 2023
Asked if taking up the coaching role meant she was retiring, Rani said: “I am not retiring since I know I still have more to give to the sport as a player. I have this thing in me to not give up. If I had to, I’d have given up after the Olympics. I accepted this since is a short term programme that could be converted into a long-term project. Initially, it’s a 45-day camp.”
While Sardar, who is a selector, said be wasn’t in the meetings where decision to drop Rani was taken, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said they have asked the coach and the selection committee the reasons why she was removed from the team.
“We can understand Rani isn’t in the team and we have asked the coach and selector why such a player isn’t included. When a team is selected, president and secretary don’t interfere. it’s the responsibility of the selectors and coach. I have spoken to Rani, who was very upset. We can’t share all the details but after talking to her, we proposed her the offer to become a coach,” Tirkey said.
Tirkey said the idea to form under-17 men and women’s team was to strengthen the youth structure. The team, he added, will also play against youth sides of Belgium, the Netherlands and a few Asian countries.