Jalandhar, Oct 28: Star midfielder Nilakanta Sharma announced his upcoming retirement from international hockey on Tuesday, declaring that the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 will serve as his final tournament in the Indian jersey. The 31-year-old native of Manipur marked his 163rd appearance and 20th international goal during India’s commanding 13-0 victory over Bangladesh at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar. Governing body Hockey India expressed deep gratitude for his years of service to the national team.
Nilakanta leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of the most accomplished modern midfielders in the country. After capturing world attention during India’s victorious 2016 Junior World Cup campaign, he transitioned smoothly into senior competition from 2017 onwards. His international career reached its peak as a core member of the squad that captured bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, alongside silver at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and dual gold medals at the Hangzhou 2022 and Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games.
The veteran midfielder affirmed that he discussed his retirement timing with the coaching staff during the Asian Games, feeling that stepping aside after this home event was appropriate. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to step up during the recent Asian Games following a teammate’s injury and reiterated a desire to give back to hockey by nurturing young athletes in Manipur.
Representatives from Hockey India extended sincere praise for his commitment to the national program over the years. President Dr. Dilip Tirkey maintained that Nilakanta’s tactical presence in the midfield was immensely valuable to the team’s structure. Secretary General Shri Bhola Nath Singh asserted that his hard work and understanding of the game left a lasting impact, wishing him continued success as he transitions into his post-playing career.
