She donned the Indian colours in the 1974 France and 1978 Madrid World Cups and captained India in the latter playing as the centre-half.
[3] Saini earned nearly 200 Test caps both in India and abroad, and also played in the 1979 world championships held in Vancouver.
[1] During the 1980 Olympics the sisters were star members of India's hockey team which also included the Prem Maya Sonir and Lorraine Fernandes where they defeated Austria and Poland.
[5] Prema Saini, Rupa's elder sibling, was decorated with Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award by the Punjab government.
[1] Rupa Saini later went on earn a doctoral degree and was employed as a senior lecturer with the Government College of Physical Education in Patiala.