Indian hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay said the national women’s team has the ability to spring a surprise at the Tokyo Olympics with Rani Rampal and Savita Punia touted to play important roles to guide them.
The former India skipper praised 25-year-old Rampal for her leadership. The Khel Ratna winner in 2020 had led India to the podium at the 2018 Asian Games and also guided the team to a spot at the Olympics for the second successive time. And goalkeeper Punia, who is one of the most experienced players in the team, has also played a crucial role in the qualifiers.
“We have one of the best captains in Rani. I think Rani and goalkeeper Savita can take the team to a podium finish. The team is working really hard, preparing for the Olympics and am confident of a good show,” Pillay said during an interaction with Indian paddler Mudit Dani.
The only Indian hockey player to have appeared in four Olympics, Pillay believes that the sport has come a long way, especially when it comes to stamina and physical abilities, and thinks Indian hockey players can give tough competition to the best in the world.
“What hockey I played and what these players have been playing for the last 10-15 years, there is no match. The current players are playing based on their fitness abilities. Fitness has changed Indian hockey and also the players are very serious about their physique and endurance abilities. Today the Indian team can be compared with Australia or Netherlands or Germany. They can give a tough fight to any team in the world,” said Pillay, who made more than 300 appearances for the country in his 15-year illustrious career.
In order to take the legacy of Indian hockey forward, the 52-year-old also suggested having a larger pool of players in the Indian camp which can provide opportunities to more players to showcase their skills and get into the national side.
Watch the interaction here: