"Passing on two decades of accumulated expertise as a mentor" - Rani Rampal relishing Hockey India League stint with Soorma HC [Exclusive]

Over the course of a two-decade-long hockey career, Rani Rampal has seen it all. From scoring a stunning winner against the USA in the 2019 Olympic qualifiers to leading the team to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, the talismanic captain scaled dizzying heights.

Little did the girl from Shahabad Markanda know that the celebrations post the Tokyo Games would be followed by what she now describes as a "difficult phase" after being sidelined from the very team she led with aplomb. Not one to be discouraged or rueful about the past, Rani Rampal has since taken on a new and challenging role, aiming to pass on her invaluable expertise to young aspirants.

During the course of a candid and exclusive interaction with Sportskeeda, the trailblazer who came to be identified as the face of women's hockey in India stressed that she is relishing her role as mentor for HIL (Hockey India League) franchise Soorma Hockey Club.

"Coaching is a new journey for me, which I have started from scratch. It took me over 20 years to get to where I was as a player so being a coach is a big leveller since I now have to learn a new set of skills," the two-time Olympian stated. "I'm learning to be more patient. Some players are fast learners and some are slow. So I have to learn how to manage both types of players. I am enjoying my journey as a coach, especially since I like teaching and imparting my skills to youngsters. I am passing on two decades of accumulated expertise as a mentor," Rani Rampal disclosed.

Rani Rampal, who guided Soorma Hockey Club to a second-place finish in the previous edition of the Hockey India League alongside coach Jude Menezes, is justifiably proud of what the group achieved during the previous season.

After finishing on top of the league table with four wins from six matches, SHC went down fighting 1-2 against the now-defunct Odisha Warriors in the final.

"I enjoyed working with SHC during the previous season of the Hockey India League. We were very consistent with our performances throughout the tournament. Even in the finals, we performed well but were unable to finish as well as we would have ideally wanted to," she recalled.

Getting all the players in the Soorma camp "on the same page" is vital, according to Rani Rampal, given the mix in the ranks. The 31-year-old also reckons that veterans like Maria Jose-Granatto should be leading from the front, even as the Indian juniors imbibe their skills.

"Despite having a varied mix of styles and nationalities, we at Soorma HC speak the same language, and this is the language of hockey. Our aim is to have everyone on the same page with a view to staying united. We also need to understand that there are no individual heroes in the team," the stalwart stressed. "Since we have world-class stalwarts like Maria Jose-Granatto, we would expect them to lead from the front, so the youngsters can imbibe their skills before making it to the senior squad," Rani Rampal asserted.

Working alongside Head Coach Jude Menezes has been an enriching experience for Rani Rampal, who has no qualms about traversing a new learning curve as she endeavours to excel in a coaching and mentoring role.

"As coaches, we aim to explore how we can educate and develop the young talent in the side with an aim to improve Indian hockey. The Hockey India League is not just about winning and losing but also about developing players," she explained. "Jude has worked with several overseas teams, and we devise the strategy together. As a mentor, my role is more to be available for the players if they are struggling mentally. The HIL is a big platform for the players, and they are keen to showcase their talents on the big stage. But in the process, they forget to do the simple things right and try doing fancy stuff," the Padma Shri awardee noted.

Helping the young Indian girls shed their inhibitions off the pitch is also something that Rani Rampal is striving for by getting the introverts in the bunch to interact with the senior internationals.

The former striker also declared that while the talent in the Soorma squad is aplenty, the Hockey India League gives the youngsters the much-needed exposure to come to terms with the pressure of the big stage.

"My role also involves helping players develop off the field as well. Some players are extremely shy. I try to have them interact with a senior player from the team regardless of whether or they not they are conversant or comfortable with English," Rani Rampal said. "Players like Baljeet Kaur, Mumtaz Khan, Nidhi Phalswal, Hina Bano and Sonam have a lot of talent and potential but need experience and exposure, which the HIL helps them get," she reasoned.

Soorma Hockey Club, led by Rani Rampal's longtime former teammate Savita Punia and Salime Tete (co-captain) will vie for top honours in the second season of the Women's Hockey India League. Delhi SG Pipers, Shrachi Bengal Tigers and debutants Ranchi Royals are the other teams in the fray.

"Will definitely give it a thought if offered a role with the Indian seniors" - Rani Rampal

Rani Rampal (centre) is keen to learn new skills in her role as a mentor at the Hockey India League - Source: Getty

Rani Rampal is candid enough to admit that being sidelined after the Tokyo Olympics was not easy to take, but also that she refuses to dwell on past setbacks.

"I will be very honest. It took me a while to get over it, but now I ask myself what I can do in future instead of ruing the past. It was a difficult phase, but setbacks in life also teach valuable lessons," she observed.

Consistency, she feels, is the key for the Indian seniors who failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics before being relegated from the FIH Pro League.

"Phases happen in sport and consistency is very important to perform well at the world level. A few highly experienced players have recently retired and the young players need time to be able to play at the highest level. Also handling the pressure of big matches could be a challenge despite the skill and potential," she opined.

Rani Rampal is open to coaching the Indian seniors if the opportunity does come her way at some point in the future. For now, though, her mission is to groom upcoming talent at the grassroots level with an eye on the 2036 Olympics, which Ahmedabad is bidding to host.

"I am attempting to groom young talent at the grassroots level with a very high-level coaching for youngsters who can perform well for the country at the 2036 Olympics," she stated with a tone that mirrored the determination. "I will definitely give it a thought if I am offered a role with the Indian senior side."

Indian hockey, no doubt, is continuing to benefit even as one of its all-time greats switches roles in an attempt to corner more glory.

Edited by Subhashish Majumdar