Indian women’s hockey team captain Rani on Friday said winning the Khel Ratna, the country’s highest sporting honour, will motivate her to bring home more laurels.
“It is a really proud moment for me and especially for my family.
“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,” Rani said in a release issued by Hockey India.
“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.
“I also would like to congratulate all the other award winners too,” said Rani, who is currently based out of the SAI Centre in Bengaluru.
The 25-year-old had helped the Indian team secure a berth at the Tokyo Olympics, besides leading the side into the final of the 2018 Asian Games.