Indian hockey midfielder Nilakanta Sharma, a member of the country’s historic Tokyo Olympics bronze medal-winning team, has announced that he will retire from international hockey after the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab, bringing an end to a nine-year senior international career.
The 31-year-old from Manipur announced his decision on Tuesday after India’s emphatic 13-0 victory over Bangladesh in their tournament opener at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar.
Sharma, who made his 163rd international appearance against Bangladesh, scored India’s sixth goal in the 26th minute, taking his international tally to 20.
Explaining his decision, Sharma said he had discussed his retirement plans with the national team coach during the Asian Games in Japan earlier this month.
“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,” Sharma said.
The midfielder played a significant role in India’s resurgence on the international stage, including the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, which ended the country’s 41-year wait for an Olympic hockey medal.
He was also part of India’s gold medal-winning teams at the Hangzhou Asian Games and the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan.
Sharma began his international journey at the junior level, helping India win the 2015 Junior Asia Cup and the 2016 Junior World Cup before making his senior debut against Belgium in 2017.
His achievements include the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy, the 2019 FIH Men’s Series Finals, the silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and consecutive Asian Champions Trophy titles in 2023 and 2024.
Reflecting on his career, Sharma described the Tokyo Olympics bronze medal as one of his greatest achievements and said he was fortunate to have contributed to India’s latest Asian Games triumph.
He also expressed his intention to remain associated with hockey and support the development of young players in Manipur.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey paid tribute to the midfielder’s contribution, describing him as a dedicated player whose commitment had been instrumental in India’s international success.
“Nilakanta has served Indian hockey with great dedication and pride,” Tirkey said.
Sharma will remain available for India’s remaining Asian Champions Trophy matches, with the tournament final scheduled for November 5 in Mohali.
India, seeking a sixth Asian Champions Trophy title, will face China in their next league match in Jalandhar on Thursday.