Veteran Indian midfielder Nilakanta Sharma has announced that he will retire from international hockey following India’s campaign at the 2026 Asian Champions Trophy.
Hockey India midfielder Nilakanta Sharma confirmed his retirement plans on Tuesday, revealing that he will step down from international hockey after the nation’s campaign at the ongoing Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab.
The 31-year-old Nilakanta from Manipur was part of India’s gold medal-winning campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and is now competing in his farewell campaign in his home nation.
Nilkantha announced his decision right after India’s tournament-opening win over Bangladesh, which sealed a commanding 13-0 victory.
Nilakanta to retire after Hockey ACT 2026
Speaking to PTI after the match, Nilakanta said his retirement was entirely a personal decision he made after the 2026 Asian Games and was not influenced by anyone. While the veteran midfielder acknowledged he would miss representing India, he believed it was the right time to step aside and give opportunities to younger players and contribute to the team’s continued progress.
“It is 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.
“Just after the Asian Games and before this tournament, I conveyed my decision to the coach (Craig Fulton),” Nilkantha said.
Veteran hockey star prepared for retirement
Nikalanta added that he is well prepared for life after retirement and is focused on coaching young players. The veteran added that his goal is to guide the next generation and help junior players reach a higher level in the sport.
More from Hockey News“I am prepared. Whenever I go home, I coach our next generation players. After Tokyo, when my state offered me a job, I chose the sports department so that I can coach the next generation players. I have learnt a lot from here.
“This is my plan for the future. I just want to share my experience. I want to take juniors to the next level,” the veteran hockey player added.
India’s next league-stage fixture would be against China on October 29, 2026 in Jalandhar.