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Veteran midfielder Nilakanta Sharma has confirmed that the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy will be his final assignment for India.
Nilakanta Sharma has announced his retirement (Picture credit: X @TheHockeyIndia)
Star Indian midfielder Nilakanta Sharma will hang up his boots after the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy, an announcement he made ahead of the country’s opening game against Bangladesh in the tournament.
Earlier this month, Hockey India sources told PTI that Nilakanta, Jarmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Amit Rohidas, all members of India’s medal-winning teams at the Olympics and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, are all set to make the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy their final assignment.
According to the report, the move is part of Hockey India’s transition plan as it builds towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with India having qualified by winning gold at the recent Asian Games.
The 31-year-old Nilakanta said that he had made the decision to retire on his own after India’s gold-medal-winning campaign at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
“It’s a decision that I took on my own after the Asian Games; no one forced me. Obviously, I will miss playing, but this decision I took for the future generation. There are plenty of talented players waiting in the wings and they need to get an opportunity,” Nilakanta said while speaking to PTI.
“Just after the Asian Games and before this tournament, I conveyed my decision to the coach (Craig Fulton). I am prepared. Whenever I go home, I coach our next-generation players,” Nilakanta, who hails from Manipur, added.
Asked if he plans to take up full-time coaching in the future, the player said that he was focused on playing for now and would announce any such decision when the time came.
Nilakanta said that he could have continued playing until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but chose to step aside to make way for younger players.
“90% of the people say that. Still, I say, whatever happens, it is for the best. If someone else comes, it will be for India. I played for the national team for 9-10 years, but there are a lot of players behind us,” Nilakanta said.
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Ask News18Star Indian midfielder Nilakanta Sharma will retire from international hockey after the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy. The tournament is scheduled to be held from October 27 to November 5.
Ask News18October 27, 2026, 10:55 PM IST
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