Jalandhar, Oct 28: Jalandhar maintained an emotional atmosphere on Tuesday as star midfielder Nilakanta Sharma affirmed that he will retire from international hockey following the conclusion of the ongoing Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026. The 31-year-old veteran made his 163rd appearance for the nation in India’s opening fixture against Bangladesh, marking the occasion by scoring his 20th international goal in a 13-0 victory. Following the declaration, Hockey India officially lauded his substantial contributions to the sport over a nine-year period in the national senior setup.
Rising through the ranks after clinching the 2015 Junior Asia Cup and the 2016 FIH Men’s Junior World Cup, Nilakanta established a firm presence in the senior squad after making his debut against Belgium in 2017. He played an instrumental role during a historic era for Indian hockey, featuring in the side that secured the Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medal to end a 41-year podium drought. His impressive resume also includes gold medals at two consecutive Asian Games, victory at the FIH Series Finals, three Hockey World Cup appearances, and multiple Asian Champions Trophy titles.
Reflecting on his decision, Nilakanta maintained that he had previously consulted with the coaching management to plan his final appearance. He declared that while the Olympic medal remains a core highlight, participating in the recently concluded Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 and securing gold as a replacement player stood out as a special moment. Looking forward, the Manipuri star stated that he aims to remain active in sports development and work toward promoting hockey talent within his home state.
Hockey India leadership commended the retiring midfielder for his exemplary service and technical discipline on the pitch. President Dr. Dilip Tirkey stated that Nilakanta served the national team with immense pride and dedicated effort throughout his international tenure. Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh affirmed that the player’s work ethic and deep understanding of midfield dynamics significantly aided India’s achievements on the global stage, offering warm wishes for his future ventures.
