New Delhi: Ritu Rani, former captain of Indian Women’s Hockey team, in a surprising move, retired from international hockey. Her decision is seen as the one taken following her axing from the Rio Olympics squad.
Earlier, while picking the squad for the Rio Olympics Summer Games, Ritu was dropped from the team for “attitude” & performance issues, and she had left he then national camp which was called for preparation of the team for the Olympics. It was under her captaincy that the Indian women qualified for the Olympics after a gap of 36 years.
The Indian women team had an ordinary outing at the Rio Olympics as in most of their matches, they were not even close to winning.
Recently, Ritu was named in the 29 member Women’s team for the national camp tomorrow for the preparation of the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy scheduled next month at Singapore, but 2-3 days back Ritu send a mail to the Hockey India informing them about her decision to retire from international hockey.
Further he added, “It is her personal decision and we, at Hockey India, respect it. Hockey India would like to thank her for her service to the game and the nation.”
Indian women team has a long season ahead as Asian Champions Trophy will be followed by the Australia tour in November.