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| Human Interest | |
|---|---|
General Interest | |
| Ambitions | To win a medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (Athlete, 17 Aug 2018) |
| Awards and honours | In 2021 she was named Sportswoman of the Decade in the team sports category at the Sportstar ACES Awards. (sportstar.thehindu.com, 03 Apr 2021) In 2020 she received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, the highest sporting honour in India, from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. She was also one of the recipients of the Padma Shri award. (hindustantimes.com, 26 Aug 2020; newindianexpress.com, 25 Aug 2020) She was named the 2019 World Games Athlete of the Year. (femina.in, 18 Mar 2021) In 2018 she was named India's flag bearer for the closing ceremony of the Asian Games in Indonesia. (indianexpress.com, 01 Sep 2018) In 2015 she was named Hockey India's Forward of the Year. (sportskeeda.com, 26 Mar 2016) She was named Player of the Tournament at the 2013 Junior World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany, and Best Young Player at the 2010 World Cup in Rosario, Argentina. (gosportsfoundation.in, 05 Aug 2010; hockeyindia.org, 05 Aug 2013) She was included in the International Hockey Federation [FIH] All-Star team in 2010, and nominated for the FIH Young Player of the Year award in 2010, 2013 and 2014. (indianexpress.com, 19 Jul 2015. fih.ch, 06 May 2016) |
Sport Specific Information | |
| Preferred position / style / stance / technique | Forward |
General Interest | |
| Other information | EARLY DAYS She comes from Shahabad, Haryana, where her father worked as a cart-puller, transporting goods by hand. When she was growing up she had to decide on following her passion for hockey or taking responsibility for her family. She chose to do both, although it was not a universally popular decision. "In my neighbourhood, people asked my parents to not let me wear shorts and play hockey. They felt I might bring a bad name to the family." She asked her parents for one chance to prove herself, and they managed to enrol her at the Shahabad Hockey Academy. When she first entered the academy at age seven, coach Baldev Singh rejected her, saying she was too frail, but she did not give up and returned the following day. The coach ignored the academy's rule not to admit any girl under the age of eight and allowed her to train. "She was so gifted that I had to relax the rule for her, and I am glad I did," Singh said. She eventually made her senior debut for India at age 14 and went on to become part of the team that won bronze at the 2013 Junior World Cup in Monchengladbach, Germany. (sportskeeda.com, 16 Apr 2015; indianexpress.com, 19 Jul 2015; fih.ch, 06 Nov 2015) |
| Hobbies | Listening to music, shopping, going to the gym, spending time with family. (Athlete, 17 Aug 2018; femina.in, 18 Mar 2021) |
| Injuries | In 2014 she missed nine months with a dislocated shoulder and a back injury, before returning to action in June 2015. (sportskeeda.com, 16 Apr 2015; zeenews.india.com, 24 Jun 2015; Athlete, 17 Aug 2018) |
| Memorable sporting achievement | Competing at the 2010 World Cup in Rosario, Argentina. (Athlete, 17 Aug 2018) |
Sport Specific Information | |
| When and where did you begin this sport? | She began playing hockey in 2001 at the Shahbad Hockey Academy in India. |
International Debut | |
| Year | 2008 |
| Competing for | India |
| Tournament | Olympic Qualification Tournament |
| Location | Russia |
Further Personal Information | |
| Occupation | Athlete |
| Languages | English, Hindi, Punjabi |
General Interest | |
| Sporting philosophy / motto | "Play with passion." (Athlete, 17 Aug 2018) |
| Nicknames | Rano (Athlete, 17 Aug 2018) |
| Hero / Idol | Indian boxer Mary Kom, Indian hockey players Dhanraj Pillay and Sardara Singh. (femina.in, 18 Mar 2021; timesnownews.com, 24 Aug 2020) |
Sport Specific Information | |
| Name of coach | Sjoerd Marijne [national], NED |