SAI rewards Rani Rampal with out-of-turn promotion

Sports Authority of India (SAI) has given  Indian Hockey captain Rani Rampal an out-of-turn promotion for being voted The World Games Athlete of the Year. Rani, who joined SAI as an assistant coach in 2015, has been promoted to the post of coach (Level-10), with immediate effect. Speaking about the initiative of SAI to reward Rani on her achievement, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri. Kiren Rijiju said, “As an organization, the welfare of sportspersons is SAI’s primary concern. It is the government’s duty to provide the best facilities to athletes and motivate them to perform better. Ensuring that our athletes have a sound financial standing is of immense importance. This is our way of appreciating Rani for all that she has contributed to the country.”

READ | Indian Women's Hockey Team Lose 0-1 To New Zealand     

SAI rewards Rani Rampal 

Rani captained the Indian side that qualified for the Rio Olympics in 2016. She led the Indian women’s hockey team as Captain in 2018 Asian Games which won a silver medal. She is also the recipient of Arjuna Awards in 2016. It has been SAI’s constant endeavor to support athletes at all stages of their sporting career. This not only includes inducting them into SAI schemes and training centres from a young age and then supporting their careers when they become elite sportspersons, but also preparing them for a career after sport. Over the last few years, SAI has appointed a number of leading sportspersons as coaches, even when they were active athletes, in order to ensure financial stability for them and their families. Athletes like Muhammad Anas Yahiya, Sharad Kumar, OP Jaisha, Savita Punia and Ashwini Akkunji, are among the athletes who are currently posted as coaches in SAI.

READ |  Hockey Karnataka, AISPB Complete HI Senior Men National Quarterfinal Line-up

The initiative has also been appreciated by Narendra Dhruv Batra, President, Indian Olympic Association. "Firstly, I congratulate Rani on winning this prestigious award. This is not only a proud moment for the country but it has also draw global attention on women's hockey in India and I am sure this will inspire many women athletes to take up the sport. I welcome SAI's initiative to give a promotion to Rani to motivate her further." Batra said. Rani was voted The World Games Athlete of the Year through an online voting process spanning three weeks. The hockey captain came out on top with over 199,000 votes. Rani has served the country with distinction since making her debut in 2009 as a 15-year-old.

READ | SSCB, Punjab & Sind Bank, PSPB, AISPB Complete Semis Line-up Of Senior Men's Hockey  

READ | Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra Register Wins In Senior National Hockey