Latest news with #LalitKumarUpadhyay
Time of India
5 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
United News of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Lalit Upadhyay announces international retirement
Antwerp, Jun 23 (UNI) Veteran forward Lalit Kumar Upadhyay on Monday announced his retirement from international hockey, bringing the curtains down on a remarkable career that spanned over a decade- from 2014 to 2025. Lalit, announced his decision through a social media post shortly after India's final match of the European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25 season against Belgium. He featured in four matches during the tour, and his final appearance for 'team India' was against Australia on June 15. Lalit was an excellent playmaker who would also score goals on a regular basis, in total he played 183 matches for the senior national team, scoring 67 goals. Over the years, he became a trusted name in India's forward line, known for his versatility, on-field intelligence, and calm demeanour in high-pressure situations. From making his debut at the 2014 Hockey World Cup to standing tall on the Olympic podium twice, Lalit's career is a timeline 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 2024 Olympics, reinforcing his reputation as a big-match player. Apart from Olympic glory, Lalit was instrumental in India's victories at the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy, 2017 Asia Cup- where he netted four goals- and multiple other podium finishes. His medal-laden career includes a Bronze at the Odisha Men's Hockey World League Final 2017, Silver at the FIH Men's Champions Trophy 2018, Bronze at the 2018 Asian Games, and Gold at the 2018 Men's Asian Champions Trophy. He was also part of the squads that finished third in the FIH Pro League 2021-22 and won Gold at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou. In recognition of his contributions to Indian hockey, Lalit was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2021. UNI RKM
India Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Two-time Olympic medallist Lalit Upadhyay retires from international hockey
Two-time Olympic medallist Lalit Kumar Upadhyay announced his retirement from international hockey on Sunday, bringing to a close a decorated career that spanned over a decade and transformed him from a small-town dreamer into one of India's most dependable announcement came shortly after India wrapped up their FIH Pro League season with a thrilling 4-3 win over Belgium. The 31-year-old, who hails from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, leaves behind a legacy marked by resilience, skill and two historic Olympic bronze medals-Tokyo 2020 and Paris 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. Becoming an Olympian from my city after 26 years is something I'll always carry with honour and gratitude," Lalit wrote in an emotional post on his social media I announce my retirement from international a tough moment, but one every athlete must face one has been the greatest honour and pride of my life to represent our countryThank you for everything. @HockeyIndiaLeag @TheHockeyIndia Lalit Upadhyay (@lalithockey) June 22, 2025 Upadhyay, who made his senior international debut in 2014, amassed more than 179 caps and scored over 40 goals for India. He was widely admired for his slick stick-work, attacking creativity and commitment on the pitch. Yet, his path to success was anything but 2008, at just 17, Lalit found himself at the centre of a controversial sting operation aimed at exposing corruption in Indian hockey. Though later exonerated, the fallout saw him dropped from the national programme, leaving his career in tatters. The setback almost led him to quit the sport with the guidance of his first coach Shri Parmanand Mishra and the unwavering support of former India captain Dhanraj Pillay-who helped him secure a contract with Air India in 2010-Lalit began to rebuild. His revival continued in 2014 with a job at BPCL, courtesy of Tushar Khandker, and a stint with the Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India soon became a vital cog in India's midfield, contributing to major continental victories including gold medals at the 2016 and 2018 Asian Champions Trophies, and the 2017 Asia Cup. He also helped India win bronze at the 2017 Hockey World League Final and silver at the 2018 Champions Trophy."Today, I announce my retirement from international hockey. It's a tough moment, but one every athlete must face one day. It has been the greatest honour and pride of my life to represent our country. Thank you for everything," Lalit posted from his official X his farewell note, Lalit acknowledged the many individuals and institutions that played key roles in his journey. "To my first coach Shri Parmanand Mishra, who introduced me to hockey and built my foundation. To Harender Sir, who gave me my first break by picking me in Air India. To Sameer Bhai and Dhanraj Sir, who mentored me with care and belief during that time. To BPCL, for offering me a job and giving me 8 meaningful years of work and growth. To my friends and teammates, who made the journey unforgettable. To Hockey India for giving me the opportunity to wear the national jersey. And to the state government, for honouring my journey by appointing me as a DSP - a responsibility I hold with pride."But perhaps the most touching tribute was reserved for his teammate and current India captain, Harmanpreet Singh. "Hockey has given me everything, and you're one of its greatest gifts, brother," wrote with the Arjuna Award in 2021, Lalit's story is one of grit, grace and redemption. His contribution to Indian hockey transcends statistics-he has inspired a generation of players from humble backgrounds to believe that with perseverance and passion, even the toughest setbacks can be overcome
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Hockey: Two-time Olympic medallist Lalit Kumar Upadhyay announces retirement from international hockey
Indian forward Lalit Kumar Upadhyay announced his retirement from international hockey on Sunday, bringing down the curtains on a career that lasted more than a decade and saw him be a part of two Olympic Games bronze medal-winning teams. '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. Becoming an Olympian from my city after 26 years is something I'll always carry with honor and gratitude,' Lalit posted on his social media accounts. Lalith played in four matches of the eight that India played in Europe to close out their 2024-'25 Pro League season. The last match he played was against Australia in on 15 June. He has played 183 matches for India in senior international hockey, scoring 67 goals. The 31-year-old from Uttar Pradesh thanked various people who have played a part in his career. 'To my first coach Shri Parmanand Mishra, who introduced me to hockey and built my foundation. To Harender Sir, who gave me my first break by picking me in Air India. To Sameer Bhai and Dhanraj Sir, who mentored me with care and belief during that time. To BPCL, for offering me a job and giving me 8 meaningful years of work and growth. To my friends and teammates, who made the journey unforgettable. To Hockey India for giving me the opportunity to wear the national jersey. And to the state government, for honoring my journey by appointing me as a DSP — a responsibility I hold with pride.' But he reserved one final note of thanks to current India captain Harmanpreet Singh, saying, 'Hockey has given me everything, and you're one of its greatest gifts, brother.' For the talented boy from Varanasi, known for his dodging skills and creative stick-work on the field, the career almost ended before it even began. In 2008, he was used as a bait in a TV sting operation that led to erstwhile IHF being disbanded, and it also ruined Upadhyay's reputation as he was sidelined from the national programme. Lalit considered quitting hockey just at the age of 17 but kept at it and found his breakthroughs eventually. Dhanraj Pillay got him a contract with Air India in 2010, where he began picking up the pieces. Four years later, former India captain Tushar Khandker helped him get a job at BPCL and around the same time Lalit was picked for Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League as well. More recently, the forward who has scored some memorable goals through his career, has struggled for consistency and with younger forwards coming through the ranks, has decided to call time. One of those younger forwards, Abhishek, posted on Instagram: 'Your journey has been nothing short of inspiring, the dedication, passion, and humility you brought to the game will always be remembered. You've left behind a legacy that will continue to guide and motivate the next generation.'
