Olympic hockey medallist Lalit Kumar Upadhyay retires
Lalit Kumar Upadhyay
Bengaluru:
In a matter of minutes on a fateful day in April 2008, 17-year-old
Lalit Kumar Upadhyay
's promising hockey career was shattered. The teenager from Varanasi, who was garnering attention for his promising playmaking skills, was named in a sting operation involving K Jothikumaran, the secretary-general of the erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation.
Shamed for no fault of his, Lalit faded from the public eye and his dream of winning an Olympic medal lay in a shambles.
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Mentally battered but with spirit still intact, Lalit picked up the pieces. He found support in Air India and with several coaches helping along the way, he slowly worked his way back to the top. From being perceived as a 'quota' player, he scripted a stirring comeback and made his India debut six years later.
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Late Sunday night, after India's concluding outing of the FIH Pro League European leg, the 31-year-old announced his retirement from international hockey. He did so with the satisfaction of having achieved his dream twice — he was part of the bronze medal-winning teams at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.
After India ended their seven-match losing streak with a hard-fought 4-3 win against Belgium in Antwerp, Lalit said on social media: 'It's a tough moment, but every athlete has to face it… This journey began in a small village with limited resources but limitless dreams.
From facing a sting operation to standing on the Olympic podium — not once, but twice — it's been a path full of challenges, growth and unforgettable pride.
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Ironically, it was a village called Karampur that shaped Lalit's career in the formative years. Hailing from Varanasi, a place which produced one of India's greatest players, Mohammed Shahid, Lalit made 183 appearances for the country and scored 67 goals.
However, it didn't come as a surprise when Lalit called time on his career. He hadn't scored a goal in more than a year and his performance this year, especially in the Pro League, was underwhelming. With an eye on the 2028 LA Olympics, the clamour to infuse younger talent into the team has been growing. It's only a matter of time before selectors and the team management revamp the team.
With the junior World Cup slated for later this year, some emerging talents are currently part of the squad being coached by former skipper PR Sreejesh. It would hardly be surprising if a few other senior pros in the Indian team follow Lalit's lead.
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