9 APRIL2023I'M PROUD AND OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTION AS I BECOME THE FIRST FEMALE HOCKEY PLAYER TO HAVE A STADIUM NAMED AFTER ME. IN THE HOPES THAT IT MAY MOTIVATE THE UPCOMING GROUP OF FEMALE HOCKEY PLAYERSIN FOCUSRani Rampal, a star player for India's women's hockey team, received a great honour when she became the first female athlete to have a stadium dedicated in her honour. In the state of Uttar Pradesh, Rae Bareli is home to the sports complex. While originally the stadium was titled the 'MCF Rae Bareli', it has since been renamed 'Rani's Girls Hockey Turf'.Rani posted pictures of herself talking with the players and helping to open the stadium on social media. She was joined by other staff members in these images."The MCF Raebareli has renamed the hockey stadium to `Rani's Girls Hockey Turf' to honour my commitment to hockey'', Rani said on her Twitter account. "Words seem too inadequate to explain my satisfaction and appreciation as I share this news", Rani added.She continued by expressing her thanks by saying, "I'm proud and overwhelmed with emotion as I become the first female hockey player to have a stadium named after me. In the hopes that it may motivate the upcoming group of female hockey players, I dedicate this to the Indian women's hockey team". Earlier this year, while the Indian team was touring South Africa, Rani returned to the team as a member of a 22-person group.In the FIH Women's Hockey Pro League 2021­22, when she earned her 250th cap for India, Rani last competed against Belgium.The 28-year-old, who was the captain of the Indian women's team in the Tokyo Olympics, has been dealing with an injury since then, and as a result, she was not selected for the World Cup and Commonwealth Games 2022 squads. RANI RAMPAL IS THE FIRST FEMALE HOCKEY PLAYER TO HAVE A STADIUM NAMED IN HER HONOUR
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