Xtra Time Web Desk: Two stalwarts of Indian men’s hockey team and also members of Tokyo Olympic bronze medal winning team Rupinder Pal Singh and Birendra Lakra has decided to retire from International hockey. Both of them decided to call it a day in order to give more opportunities to youth as Head Coach Graham Reid has made it clear he would want a young team for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Rupinder, who made his international debut in 2010, played a pivotal role in India’s recent Bronze Medal-winning feat at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Having scored as many as four goals in the tournament, Rupinder was the second highest goal-scorer in the team.
Fondly known as ‘Bob’ by his teammates, Rupinder featured in India’s important feats in the past decade, which includes the Gold Medal-winning feat at the 2014 Asian Games, 2016 Asian Champions Trophy triumph, 2015 Bronze Medal-winning FIH Hockey World League Final and 2017 Bronze Medal-winning FIH Hockey World League Final.
His Illustrious career included scoring the most number of goals in the 2013 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup & 2016 Asian Champions Trophy. After a break in 2018-19, the lanky drag-flicker made a strong comeback in the 2020 Olympic Qualifiers and scored his first hat-trick since the 2018 Asian Games.
Like Rupinder, the 31-year-old Lakra has been part of most of Indian hockey’s triumphs in the last decade and is a two-time Olympian.The Odisha player missed out on the 2016 Olympics with a knee injury but made a strong return that year to play a pivotal role in India winning the Asian Champions Trophy. He was also a part of the 2014 gold medal-winning Incheon Asian Games team and the side that claimed bronze in 2018 Jakarta.
Born in Lachchada village in Odisha’s Sundergarh district, Lakra made his debut in 2012 in a Test series against South Africa, was part of the team that finished last in the 2012 London Games, was named the team’s joint vice-captain at Tokyo 2020 along with Harmanpreet before finishing with a total of 201 international caps. A reliable centre-back, the Odisha defender always possessed a calm and composed attitude when put under pressure by opposition forwards.