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Olympic medallist Lalit Upadhyay retires from International Hockey
In recognition of his achievements, he was conferred the Arjuna Award in 2021.
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Bhavana P - Mon, 23, Jun 2025
- 16:12 EDT
- 11
Lalit Kumar Upadhyay / Hockey India
Indian hockey forward Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, announced his retirement from international hockey on June 23.
The 32-year-old from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, made the announcement through a social media post shortly after India's final match of the European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024–25 season against Belgium. His last appearance in the Indian jersey came on June 15, against Australia.
Also read: India captain Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket
Lalit represented India in 183 senior international matches and scored 67 goals. A natural playmaker known for his versatility, and goal-scoring instinct, Lalit was a key component of India’s forward line from his debut at the 2014 Hockey World Cup to his final game in 2025.
He played a major role in India’s historic bronze medal finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics—the nation’s first Olympic hockey medal in 41 years—and repeated the feat at Paris 2024, helping India secure another bronze.
Beyond the Olympics, Lalit’s contributions were equally significant in other major tournaments. He was part of India’s gold-winning squads at the 2016 and 2018 Asian Champions Trophy, the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, and the 2017 Asia Cup, where he scored four goals. He also earned medals at the Hockey World League Final (2017, bronze), FIH Champions Trophy (2018, silver), and 2018 Asian Games (bronze).
“Lalit has been one of the most graceful and dedicated forwards of his generation. Whether it was a crucial Olympic match or a league game, he always wore the Indian jersey with pride and played with heart,” said Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India president.
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