Rajani Etimarpu

Rajani Etimarpu
Personal information
Born (1990-06-09) 9 June 1990 (age 34)
Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh, India
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight 60 kg (132 lb)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club Railways
Senior career
Years Team
2011– Railways
National team
Years Team Caps Goals
2009– India 96 (0)
Medal record
Women's field hockey
Representing  India
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2018 Jakarta Team
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Birmingham Team
Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place 2017 Gifu
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Kuala Lumpur
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Muscat
Asian Champions Trophy
Gold medal – first place 2016 Singapore
Silver medal – second place 2013 Kakamigahara
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Busan
Hockey5s World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2024 Oman

Rajani Etimarpu (born 9 June 1990)[1] is an Indian field hockey player who represents the India women's national field hockey team. She hails from Andhra Pradesh and plays as a goalkeeper. She represents Railway Sports Promotion Board in the domestic tournaments.

Early life and education

Rajani hails from Enumulavaripalli village, Yerravaripalem mandal. Tirupati District, Andhra Pradesh.[2] She did her schooling at Zilla Parishad High School in Nerabailu village. In 2007, she represented Andhra Pradesh in the Junior National Championship where AP reached quarterfinals. Her performance in the tournament helped her get a call to the National camp in 2008.[3] Prasanna Kumar of Tirupati was the first to spot her and encouraged her to take up goalkeeping because of her height advantage.

Hockey career

Rajani is one of the few Indian players who was part of the Indian team at the Olympics, World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. She took part in the Rio Olympics in 2016 where the team finished 12th. She was part of the Indian team at the XXI Commonwealth Games 2018 at Gold Coast, Australia. She was also part of the Indian team in two World Cups. They are the Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup 2018, London, and BDO FIH World Cup 2010, Rosario, Argentina. The highlight of her career is a silver medal at the 18th Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta, Indonesia.[4] Earlier, she also played at the 2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League and the Hawke's Bay Cup 2015 held in New Zealand.[5][6]

Rajani was selected as the Indian captain to lead the women's team at the inaugural the FIH Women's Hockey 5s held in Lausanne, Switzerland, from June 4 to 5.[7][8] The player has 110 international caps to her credit.[9]

References

  1. ^ "RAJANI ETIMARPU -". 28 August 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  2. ^ Adivi, Sashidhar (22 October 2017). "The keeper of India's goals". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  3. ^ Writer, SportzCraazy (26 July 2022). "Rajani Etimarpu Biography: Achievements, Personal Life, Family, Unknown Facts & Social Media -". Sportzcraazy. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Rajani Etimarpu Profile". Hockey India. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  5. ^ IANS (5 April 2015). "Indian women's hockey team working on bench strength". sportskeeda.com.
  6. ^ "Rajani Etimarpu". Stick2Hockey. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  7. ^ PTI (20 May 2022). "Rajani Etimarpu to lead India in inaugural FIH Women's Hockey 5s". sportstar.thehindu.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  8. ^ Scroll Staff (31 December 2023). "Hockey, 5s World Cup: Rajni Etimarpu, Simranjeet Singh to lead Indian men's and women's teams". Scroll.in. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Hockey India – Rajani Etimarpu". hockeyindia.org.