Around the period 2017 to 2018, who served as captain of the Indian womens field hockey team in major international tournaments such as the Asia Cup?

Introduction / Context:
This question focuses on leadership in Indian womens field hockey. In the period around 2017 to 2018, India womens team achieved notable success, including winning the Womens Asia Cup. The question asks you to recall which player captained the team during that era, an important fact in sports general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The sport is womens field hockey.
• The timeframe mentioned is around 2017 to 2018 and includes major tournaments such as the Asia Cup.
• Options list Sunita Lakra, Gurjit Kaur, Rani Rampal and Deep Grace Ekka.
• We assume basic awareness of key names in Indian womens hockey.

Concept / Approach:
Rani Rampal has been one of the most prominent forwards in Indian womens hockey and has served as team captain in several major tournaments during this period. She led India to important victories and was often referred to as the face of the womens team. The correct approach is to connect her leadership role with the successful campaign at the Womens Asia Cup and related events.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the key players of India womens hockey team in the 2017 to 2018 period.Step 2: Remember that Rani Rampal, a forward, was frequently mentioned as captain and was the central figure of the team during the Womens Asia Cup victory.Step 3: Evaluate the other names. Sunita Lakra and Deep Grace Ekka are defenders, while Gurjit Kaur is a drag flick specialist. They are important players but not the main captains in that time window.Step 4: Check which of the options matches the leadership role in major tournaments, which points strongly to Rani Rampal.Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is Rani Rampal.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, remember news coverage of the Womens Asia Cup 2017, where India won the title and qualified for the World Cup. Reports described Rani Rampal as captain and highlighted her goals and leadership. While roles can shift for short tours, the general exam oriented fact is that Rani Rampal captained the team in this successful period. This confirms that option C is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Sunita Lakra, and option D, Deep Grace Ekka, are defenders who at times served as vice captains or senior players but are not usually cited as captains in exam summaries for that period. Option B, Gurjit Kaur, is a key penalty corner and drag flick specialist but again not the regular captain. Therefore these options do not match the leadership profile asked in the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may mix up captains and vice captains or recall another tournament where the armband temporarily changed due to rotation or injury. Another pitfall is assuming that the most famous drag flicker or defender must be captain. To answer correctly, focus on the widely reported Asia Cup victory and note that Rani Rampal was consistently presented as the captain and face of the team.

Final Answer:
Around 2017 to 2018, the Indian womens hockey team was captained in major tournaments by Rani Rampal.