Meet The Athletes Featured In Deepika Padukone’s Nike Ad

Rani Rampal

Rani was the youngest player in the Indian women’s national field hockey team in 2010. She was merely 15 years old when she joined the squad. She is the only Indian to have been nominated for the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Women’s Young Player of the Year Award in 2010.

The feisty forward has humble roots, hailing from a small town in Delhi, but that has never stopped her. “Coming from a small village never stopped me; every time I won a medal I kept getting stronger and more confident to take on the world.”

For Rani, sports are her means of self assurance and helped her expand her dreams. We’re sure she inspired many other young women in sports to follow their dreams too.

Jyoti Ann Burrett

Jyoti is a petite 5 feet 3 inches tall footballer, who packs quite a punch on the field. Jyoti is the striker of the Indian women’s football team.
The 26-year-old footballer began her journey with the Indian women’s team in 2013 and intends to give the women’s football team the exposure that it deserves. She has a Masters degree in Sports and Health Science from University of Exeter and had no dearth of lucrative jobs, but decided to go for football instead. Why? Passion.

Despite being ranked 57 in the FIFA rankings, which is leaps better than the men’s team ranking of 163, the women’s team barely gets any visibility. “The men have a lot more exposure, they can play for their states in regular national tournaments, and they have more foreign trips. They can be full-time footballers; Indian women don’t have that luxury.” Jyoti said in an interview with The Ladies Finger. With players like Jyoti on the squad we’re sure that the women’s football team will start getting the attention they deserve.