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Two pillars of contemporary hockey Rupinder and Birendra announce retirement

Two pillars of contemporary hockey Rupinder and Birendra announce retirement

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Two defenders, both had as illustrious hockey career as the other, chose same day today to announce their retirement from international hockey. We will not see both defender Rupinder Pal Singh, known for his fighting spirit and scoring prowess at penalty corners and another bullwark Birendra Lakra on play anymore.

Indian men’s camp is about to start on 3rd October.  The core-group will form fulcrum on which Indian will seek laurels in the next year’s World Cup and Asian Games, if not the Commonwealth Games. It was therefore expected some senior players will announce their career decision. They did.

Both Rupinder and Birendra took to social media handles to announce the all important decision of their lives.

Rupinder also took a happy decision on the home front: his engagement was held a month ago.

Birendra, injury prone of late, and was also not in his elements at Tokyo, was expected to take stock of his career as it stands in the contemporary scene. He did.

He hung his boots. But the footprints he leaves behind will present to tell his story for the years to come.

Hailing from a humble background, charmed by others like Dilip Tirkey and Lazrus Barla, who shone on the international scene, Birendra Lakra, a product of Rourkela Steel plant’s hockey academy, had a long career.

Rupinder Pal, known for his crucial goals and saves, was heads and shoulders above the rest at the back of the Indian team.

This is his statement:

‘I would like to inform you about my decision to retire from the Indian hockey team. The past couple of months have undoubtedly been the best days of my life. Standing on the podium in Tokyo along with my teammates with whom I have shared some of the most incredible experiences of my life was a feeling I will cherish forever. I believe it is time for me to make way for young and talented players to experience every great joy I have felt in these last 13 years of representing India. I have had the honour of wearing the India jersey in 223 matches and each of these matches are special for I had the privilege of playing for this great sport-loving nation.

I am leaving the team feeling happy and content as we have conquered the greatest dream which was to win an Olympic medal for India. I will carry with me nothing but great memories of playing with some of the most talented players in world hockey and I have immense respect for each one of them. My teammates have been a great pillar of support all these years and I wish them the best as they surge ahead in taking India to newer heights in hockey.
None of this success I enjoy today would have been possible without the support and encouragement from my friends and family, particularly my mother and father. I walked into every match thinking of them.
I thank Hockey India for having their faith in me all these years. I also thank Baba Shershah Wali Academy and coaches, Firozpur where my journey in hockey began. I thank my friends & coaches from Faridkot from where I have some very fond memories as a young player. I also thank coaches late Shri Jasbir Singh Bajwa, Shri OP Ahlawat and my friends from Chandigarh Hockey Academy who played a big role in my formative years as a player.
I am grateful to all the Coaches who trained me to become a better player and I thank all the support staff – the scientific advisors, the physios, the masseurs, video analysts who have all been a big part of this success story.. Fans are truly the ones who make the sport more enjoyable and I was very fortunate all these years to enjoy the support of some very passionate fans of hockey. I wish that you will continue to support me the same way you always have as I move on from the Indian Team and begin a new chapter both on the personal and professional front’.

 

 

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1 Comment

  1. Ashraf Ahmed October 2, 2021

    Wishing you all the best in your future endeavours. Thank you for bringing laurels to our great country. May god bless you.

    Reply

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