Jalandhar, October 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian midfielder Nilakanta Sharma has announced that he will retire from international hockey after India’s campaign at the Asian Champions Trophy 2026, bringing the curtain down on a career highlighted by an Olympic bronze medal and two Asian Games gold medals.
The 31-year-old Manipuri player made his 163rd international appearance in India’s opening match against Bangladesh at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar on Tuesday. India won 13-0, with Nilakanta scoring his 20th international goal.
A key figure in India’s midfield, Nilakanta was part of the team that won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, ending the country’s 41-year wait for an Olympic hockey medal. He also won Asian Games gold at Hangzhou 2022 and at the 2026 edition in Japan earlier this month.
His international journey began in junior hockey, with victories at the 2015 Junior Asia Cup and the 2016 FIH Men’s Junior World Cup in Lucknow. He made his senior international debut against Belgium in 2017 and went on to represent India at the 2018, 2023 and 2026 Men’s Hockey World Cups.
His other achievements include the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy, shared with Pakistan, the FIH Men’s Series Finals in 2019, silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Asian Champions Trophy titles in 2023 and 2024.
“I discussed that with our coach during the Asian Games. I told him that I want to bid adieu in the next tournament because I feel it’s the right time for me,” Nilakanta said.
He described the Olympic bronze as one of the biggest moments of his career and said winning another Asian Games gold in Japan made his final matches particularly memorable.
Looking ahead, he expressed a desire to give back to hockey and contribute to the sport’s growth in Manipur.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey and Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh praised Nilakanta’s dedication, contribution to the national team and understanding of the game, wishing him success in the next chapter of his life.
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