"I have no regrets": Hockey great Rani Rampal upon retiring from professional hockey

One of the greatest women's hockey players to be born in India, Rani Rampal left a big vacuum in Indian hockey when she drew the curtains on her glittering career last week.

In an exclusive chat with Sportskeeda, Rani Rampal recently said:

"I have had a long, distinguished career of 15-16 years. It was a difficult decision to announce my retirement and walk away from it all. But I think this was the right time because I have no regrets in life and I have done everything I wanted in sports."

The former star forward from Haryana had tears in her eyes as she recounted her journey from a difficult childhood plagued by poverty to the pinnacle of global women's hockey.

The daughter of a horse cart driver in Haryana, it was a big challenge for Rampal to take up sports as a career.

"My family was extremely poor. Sometimes we ate only once a day. We did not know when or how we will be able to afford our next meal. The society also did not encourage girls to play sports or pursue outdoor activities. But I had passion and determination to achieve something in life," she added.

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"I hope to guide the next generation" - Rani Rampal to work as a coach

Having bid goodbye to her playing days, the 29-year-old has already embarked on her next journey in her beloved sport and is ready to guide the next generation of India's women's hockey players in her new avatar as a coach with the Sports Authority of India (SAI).

"I was lucky enough to get some really good guidance which helped me to become a very good player. Now I want to guide youngsters and help them to become good players," she said in the same interview. "A good coach is very important for a sportsperson and I hope to guide the next generation and hopefully unearth the next Rani Rampal."