Rani Rampal becomes first ever hockey player to win World Games Athlete of the Year award

Indian women’s team captain Rani Rampal became the
first-ever hockey player to win the prestigious ‘World Games Athlete of the
Year’ award.

The World Games announced the winner last night after 20
days of polling in January this year by sports fans worldwide.

Congratulating Rani, the World Games said with 1,99,477
votes, she is the clear winner of the Athlete of the Year race. All in all,
over 7,05,610 votes were cast during the poll.

Last year, India won the FIH Series Finals, and Rani was
named Player of the Tournament.

 Under Rani’s
leadership, the Indian women’s team qualified for just the third Olympic Games
in its history.

Rani, who was recently named among the Padma Shri awardees,
dedicated the award to the entire hockey fraternity, her team and the country.

Rani further said after a successful 2019, she is now
looking forward to achieving greater heights with the national team for the
2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. She has been a member of the national team since she
was a 15-years-old, and has more than 240 caps for India.

International World Games Association President Jose
Perurena, International Hockey Federation CEO Thierry Weil, and Hockey India
President Mohammad Mushtaque Ahmad also congratulated Rani over her
achievement.