Odisha CM Congratulates Rani Rampal on Winning World Games Athlete of the Year 2019 Award

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has congratulated Indian Women’s Hockey Team captain Rani Rampal on wining the prestigious World Games Athlete of the Year 2019 Award.

Rani has become the first Indian athlete to win the prestigious award.

Congratulate Indian Women’s Hockey Team Captain @imranirampal on winning World Games Athlete of the Year 2019 Award. Wish her continued success. #OdishaForHockey https://t.co/H0rbkjg1rm

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) January 30, 2020

The 25 athletes nominated for this award from 25 sports were recommended by their International Federations and in Rani’s case, the FIH had recommended her name for the award for her outstanding performance and her ability to lead by example. She was instrumental in India qualifying for the first time in back-to-back Olympic Games.

The winner was adjudged through the number of public votes garnered and Rani accumulated a mammoth 199,477 votes. Last year, the Acrobatic Gymnastics couple Mariia Chernova and Georgii Pataraia (Russia) won the title with 159,348 votes, just ahead of American Powerlifter Jennifer Thompson with 152,865 votes.

Rani who was recently shortlisted for the prestigious Padma Shri award, thanked her fans and well wishers for supporting her and voting for her to win the World Games Athlete of the Year 2019.

This was the 6th edition of the IWGA (International World Games Association) initiative that recognises and honours an athlete or a team for their outstanding performance in 2019, or for their social commitment or particularly fair behaviour.