Rani Rampal, skipper of the Indian women’s hockey team won the 2019 World Games Athlete of the Year on Thursday. This prestigious accolade (voted by the public) is given for an outstanding performance, along with social commitment and fair behaviour. In her decade long career, the 25-year-old made over 240 appearances for the national team and played a crucial role in India’s successful Olympics qualifier campaign.
“It is my privilege and honour to win this award,” said Rani. “The award goes to my team and my country. It is always nice when your country recognises your effort. It is even better when the international sports community recognises it. Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me. 2019 was a great year for our team because we qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. As a team we want to make 2020 a great year!” an elated Rani said.
Huge congratulations to The World Games Athlete of the Year: Hockey star Rani 🇮🇳! Rani won the race with a massive number of votes: 199,477! She will receive a trophy & a prize from the official sponsor @ProtectiveLife🏆 #TheWorldGamesAOTY @FIH_Hockey @hockeyindia @imranirampal pic.twitter.com/gNfbpMq2Ze
— The World Games (@TheWorldGames) January 30, 2020
Meanwhile, Thierry Weil, the CEO of International Hockey Federation (FIH) congratulated Rampal in a statement – saying, “On behalf of FIH and the global hockey community, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Rani for having been voted The World Games Athlete of the Year 2019. This is an acknowledgement of her outstanding performances – together with her teammates – of her dedication to hockey and of her leadership. This prestigious Award is also a great recognition for hockey globally.”
“We are working hard for and look forward to having Hockey 5s as a demonstration sport at The World Games 2021” he added.
#TheWorldGamesAOTY@imranirampal has won The World Games Athlete of the Year award!
Here is her message after winning the award!@TheHockeyIndia pic.twitter.com/FrtsfhsqOG
— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) January 30, 2020
Among the 25 initial nominees (both male and female), Rani was picked the winner in the final round of public voting; while Stanislav Horuna the karate star from Ukraine, Canadian powerlifting champion Rhaea Stinn and Janja Garnbret, the sport climbing athlete from Slovenia gave her a tough competition in the award run.
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