Latest news with #Lalit
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘Captain Harmanpreet Singh wanted me to continue but I had made up my mind': Lalit Upadhyay on retirement
Many in the Indian team, including captain Harmanpreet Singh, wanted Lalit Upadhyay to not retire from international hockey but the 32-year-old midfielder said that he had already made up his mind before making the announcement. Lalit made the announcement in an Instagram post, thus bringing the curtains down on a storied career in which he won medals at consecutive Olympics, an Asian Games gold and bronze and a Commonwealth Games silver among a host of other medals and trophies. 'I am almost 32 years old and I felt that now is the time to bid adieu,' Lalit is quoted as saying by PTI. 'I wanted to retire while being at the peak and despite the ligament injury, my fitness and form have been great.' Lalit retires with 67 goals in 183 matches for India. His decision came at the end of a horrific run for the team in the FIH Pro League in which they lost seven matches on the bounce. Lalit said that this had nothing to do with his decision. 'I have taken this decision myself. I did not want to drag myself. Many people, including (captain) Harmanpreet Singh, wanted me to keep playing but I had made up my mind,' he said. A post shared by Lalit Upadhyay (@14__lalit) // 'The team was very cooperative but the time (to retire) had come. Even before going to Europe for the Pro League, I was thinking about quitting. I will continue playing domestic hockey and leagues.' Lalit said he took up hockey to support his family as the small cloth shop was not doing well. 'My family condition was very bad when I took up hockey. My father's small cloth shop was closed and my mother had to stitch clothes. I took up the sport in search of a better future… a job. When my elder brother and I used to stay in day-boarding, we used to get Rs. 250-300 with which we bought a sewing machine for our mother,' he said. Asked about the best moment of his career, he recalls the quarterfinal against Great Britain at the Paris Olympics when India won in the shootout. He feels that despite a string of losses, India's performance in the Europe leg of the Pro League was not bad and the matches were close. 'Many new things were tried and we learnt a lot. We managed to defeat a top team like Belgium.' Lalit also expressed his desire to serve Indian hockey as a coach. 'If Hockey India wants, I am ready for it. I want to help the future generation of hockey players.' he said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
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. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 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. KL Rahul press conference: On his role, being elder brother in team, role clarity and match 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. ' Quiz: Who's that IPL player? 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. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Hans India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Two-time Olympic medallist hockey forward Lalit Upadhyay retires
New Delhi: Veteran Indian hockey forward Lalit Upadhyay has called time on his illustrious international career, drawing curtains on over a decade-long journey that saw him be a part of the teams that won bronze medals in Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games. From making his debut at the 2014 World Cup to standing tall on the Olympic podium twice, Lalit's career is a time-line of some of Indian hockey's biggest milestones in the modern era. He was a crucial part of the squad that scripted history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, helping India clinch a long-awaited bronze medal, and repeated the feat at the Paris Games in 2024, reinforcing his reputation as a big-match player. 'This journey began in a small village, with limited resources but limitless dreams,' Lalit announced his decision through a heartfelt social media post shortly after India's final match of the European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25 season against Belgium on Sunday. '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,' Lalit posted. 'Becoming an Olympian from my city after 26 years is something I'll always carry with honor and gratitude,' he added. A natural play-maker with an uncanny knack for scoring goals, Lalit played 183 matches for India at the senior level, scoring 67 goals.
Deccan Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- Deccan Herald
Lalit Kumar: The striker, who played with heart, bids adieu
A journey in the Indian jersey that lasted nearly 11 years -- studded with two Olympic bronze medals (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), Asian Games gold (Hangzhou 2022) and bronze (Jakarta 2018), Asian Champions Trophy gold (Oman 2018, Malaysia 2016) and bronze (Dhaka 2021) and Arjuna Award (2011) in his kitty -- will now come to an end as the 31-year-old Lalit announced his international retirement on Sunday evening.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Will revive hockey in Kashi: Lalit Upadhyaya
Varanasi: Star forward Lalit Upadhyaya, who surprised all by bidding adieu to international hockey immediately after the end of Belgium league on Sunday, on Monday said, "I know I am quitting international hockey at a time when I am at the peak of my career and have two to three years of the game left in me. But, I am taking this decision as I wish to contribute to the domestic league and revive hockey in Varanasi where many initiatives have been taken to promote the game. Synthetic turfs, too, are being laid at many grounds here to give right exposure to young players." Hinting that his decision was inspired by cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, he told TOI over the phone, "When sports icons like Sachin and Dhoni made surprise announcements of their retirement everyone opined that two years of the game were left in their careers as they were at the peak of it. I also decided to quit when some 'best' is still left in me as I have dreams to contribute to those who supported my rise in the domestic circuit. I also have to contribute to the department's (police) hockey." Was there anything wrong in the dressing room or any differences that compelled Lalit to retire? "All was well and I was fully enjoying my role and position in Team India. It was my own decision for which I already discussed with my family," replied Lalit. In his social media post addressed to Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh, he has stated: "Hockey has given me everything and you're one of its greatest gifts, brother. " Hailing from Bhagatpur village in the Shivpur area of Varanasi, Lalit's game was polished in the nursery of Uday Pratap College under the supervision of coach Parmanand Mishra. He carried forward the legacy of dribbling wizard late Mohd Shahid and late Vivek Singh by securing his position in the Indian team. Winding up his international career at the age of 31 after playing 179 matches for India and scoring 41 goals as a forward, Lalit mentioned in another post, "Standing on the Olympic podium—not once, but twice—it's been a path filled with challenges, growth and unforgettable pride. Becoming an Olympian from my city after 26 years is something I will always hold with honour and gratitude." Lalit, who was appointed as deputy superintendent of police in Uttar Pradesh by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in 2022, was awarded the Arjuna Award, the highest honour in the field of sports, in 2021 after winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Before that, he received the Laxman Award in 2017. After 2020, he again reached the Olympic podium when the Indian hockey team won a bronze medal again in 2024. Regarding his future dreams, Lalit said that he would not only be playing in the domestic league and for those who contributed to his rise, but he would also impart his skills and knowledge of hockey to the young and emerging talents of Varanasi. Blue turfs of international standard are being laid at stadiums, including Lalpur and UP College, to make their dreams of becoming part of the Indian team a reality, he added.
