Reports: Ritu Rani not included in squad for Rio Olympics 2016

Ritu Rani in action during a match for India

Ritu Rani, the captain of the Indian Women’s Hockey team has been dropped from the squad headed for the Rio Olympics. Reports suggest that her attitude problems and lack of performance are the main reasons for such a decision. It is under Ritu’s captaincy that the Indian Women’s Hockey team qualified for the Olympics for the first time since 1980.

She has been the poster girl of Indian Women’s Hockey for the past decade and has played an influential part in India’s midfield. In her absence, the leadership is most likely to be passed on to Rani Rampal. The final squad for the Games is about to be selected in three days’ time and it is learnt as per a member of the team management Ritu has left the National Camp, currently being held in Delhi.

As per the reports of the Indian Express, the senior official said, “Its correct Ritu is not in the Olympic team. Her exclusion is solely on two counts – her (poor) performance and second is her attitude”

“It has been explained to her time and again that she needs to lift her performance but she couldn’t do so. The camp is still going on in Bangalore. It will disperse today and tomorrow we are reaching Delhi. Ritu left the camp day before yesterday” he added

Narendra Batra, the President of Hockey India said, “Yes, the team management has given me their recommendations about captain and vice captains of both the teams and it will be finalised on July 11 during the HI executive board meeting.”

He termed that Ritu’s behaviour was “immature” knowing that the final squad was not announced.

“It’s really immature on part of Ritu because the team is not yet announced. It will be officially announced only on July 12 when I will publicly open the sealed envelope,” he added.

The Rio Olympics will get underway in August this year and will feature the Women’s team for the first time since 1980.