Latest news with #15thHockeyIndiaSeniorMenNationalChampionship2025
United News of India
05-05-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
It felt like everything I had worked for was slipping away, but I didn't give up: Pratap Lakra
New Delhi, May 5 (UNI) For Pratap Lakra, the path to the Indian senior men's hockey camp has been anything but linear. The 24-year-old defender from Sundargarh, Odisha — a district known for producing hockey stalwarts — has scripted a powerful comeback story after his career derailed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lakra is only one of the two new faces in the ongoing senior national camp, which is a testament to his grit and resurgence. The call-up follows a standout performance at the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025, where he played a key role in taking Madhya Pradesh to a Silver-medal finish. 'It was not easy to come back after the lockdown,' Lakra said. 'I lost fitness and momentum. For a while, it felt like everything I'd worked for was slipping away. But I didn't give up — I kept training, kept showing up.' Lakra's journey began like many young boys in Sundargarh — with a hockey stick in hand, playing barefoot in the village fields. His father, who also played hockey in his village, and his elder sister Preeti, who represented Odisha at the national level, laid the foundation for his love of the game. 'We are a family of farmers, but hockey runs deep in our roots,' Lakra said. 'My sister joined a sports hostel first and inspired me to take the sport seriously.' Also, the financial struggles in his early years didn't deter him — in fact, they shaped him. 'There was a time when I didn't have proper shoes to play. A kind-hearted official from Hockey Gangpur Odisha helped me out. Little things like that kept me going,' he shared. Lakra's early career had shown immense promise. After beginning his hockey journey around the age of 9 in his village, he joined the renowned Panposh Sports Hostel in Rourkela in 2011. He rose through the ranks quickly, earning a place in the Indian junior team and playing in tournaments like the Sultan of Johor Cup (2017, 2019) and the 8 Nations Invitational in Spain (2019). But when the pandemic struck in 2020, Lakra, like many athletes, found himself adrift. He was released from the junior national camp, his fitness dropped, and opportunities dried up. 'It was a tough phase,' he said. 'There were days when I trained alone on the Railway team's turf, just running and working on my game without knowing what would come next.' Lakra's resilience paid off and he worked his way back into competitive hockey through Railways tournaments and eventually secured a job with South Central Railway in 2018 under the sports quota, giving him the stability to continue training and competing. By 2024, he was back in the thick of things, representing Odisha at the Senior Nationals, and then switching to play for Madhya Pradesh in 2025. The move proved pivotal — his defensive discipline and consistency were impossible to ignore. His recent performance with Madhya Pradesh at the Senior Nationals — including a hard-fought final against Punjab — earned him his long-awaited call-up to the senior national camp. 'It was a tough tournament. Playing against top Indian players was a learning experience. The final taught me a lot about team combinations and high-pressure play.' Lakra, who plays in defence and also as a drag flicker, idolises Indian greats Birendra Lakra and Rupinder Pal Singh. 'I chose to play in defence after watching Birendra Lakra — the way he controlled the game from the back really inspired me. When it came to dragflicking, I closely followed Rupinder Pal Singh — his technique and precision taught me a lot.' Pratap also gained experience with the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers in the Hero Hockey India League 2024-25. While he didn't get many chances to play, he said it was an eye-opener. 'Being around international and senior players helped me understand the game at a different level. I stayed focused and tried to make every opportunity count.' Now in the senior national camp, Lakra remains grounded. 'My goal is to improve my fitness and skills. I want to be disciplined, work hard, and earn a place in the Indian team. My ultimate dream is to win an Olympic gold for the country.' Support from his family remains unwavering. His sister Preeti, his early mentor, reminds him to stay humble. 'She told me, 'Being named in the camp is just the beginning. Keep working hard if you want to wear the Indian jersey.' UNI BM
Hans India
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
My goal is to improve my fitness, skills: Pratap Lakra on call-up to senior hockey national camp
For Pratap Lakra, the path to the Indian senior men's hockey camp has been anything but linear. The 24-year-old defender from Sundargarh, Odisha - a district known for producing hockey stalwarts - has scripted a powerful comeback story after his career derailed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Lakra is only one of the two new faces in the ongoing senior national camp, which is a testament to his grit and resurgence. The call-up follows a standout performance at the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025, where he played a key role in taking Madhya Pradesh to a Silver-medal finish. 'It was not easy to come back after the lockdown,' Lakra reflects. 'I lost fitness and momentum. For a while, it felt like everything I'd worked for was slipping away. But I didn't give up - I kept training, kept showing up.' Lakra's journey began like many young boys in Sundargarh - with a hockey stick in hand, playing barefoot in the village fields. His father, who also played hockey in his village, and his elder sister Preeti, who represented Odisha at the national level, laid the foundation for his love of the game. 'We are a family of farmers, but hockey runs deep in our roots,' Lakra says. 'My sister joined a sports hostel first and inspired me to take the sport seriously.' Also, the financial struggles in his early years didn't deter him — in fact, they shaped him. 'There was a time when I didn't have proper shoes to play. A kind-hearted official from Hockey Gangpur Odisha helped me out. Little things like that kept me going,' he shares. Lakra's early career had shown immense promise. After beginning his hockey journey around the age of 9 in his village, he joined the renowned Panposh Sports Hostel in Rourkela in 2011. He rose through the ranks quickly, earning a place in the Indian junior team and playing in tournaments like the Sultan of Johor Cup (2017, 2019) and the 8 Nations Invitational in Spain (2019). But when the pandemic struck in 2020, Lakra, like many athletes, found himself adrift. He was released from the junior national camp, his fitness dropped, and opportunities dried up. 'It was a tough phase,' he says. 'There were days when I trained alone on the Railway team's turf, just running and working on my game without knowing what would come next.' Lakra's resilience paid off and he worked his way back into competitive hockey through Railways tournaments and eventually secured a job with South Central Railway in 2018 under the sports quota, giving him the stability to continue training and competing. By 2024, he was back in the thick of things, representing Odisha at the Senior Nationals, and then switching to play for Madhya Pradesh in 2025. The move proved pivotal - his defensive discipline and consistency were impossible to ignore. His recent performance with Madhya Pradesh at the Senior Nationals - including a hard-fought final against Punjab - earned him his long-awaited call-up to the senior national camp. 'It was a tough tournament. Playing against top Indian players was a learning experience. The final taught me a lot about team combinations and high-pressure play.' Lakra, who plays in defence and also as a drag-flicker, idolises Indian greats Birendra Lakra and Rupinder Pal Singh. 'I chose to play in defence after watching Birendra Lakra - the way he controlled the game from the back really inspired me. When it came to dragflicking, I closely followed Rupinder Pal Singh - his technique and precision taught me a lot.' Pratap also gained experience with the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League 2024-25. While he didn't get many chances to play, he says it was an eye-opener. 'Being around international and senior players helped me understand the game at a different level. I stayed focused and tried to make every opportunity count.' Now in the senior national camp, Lakra remains grounded. 'My goal is to improve my fitness and skills. I want to be disciplined, work hard, and earn a place in the Indian team. My ultimate dream is to win an Olympic gold for the country.' Support from his family remains unwavering. His sister Preeti, his early mentor, reminds him to stay humble. 'She told me, 'Being named in the camp is just the beginning. Keep working hard if you want to wear the Indian jersey.'
NDTV
24-04-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Hockey India Names 54-Member Core Probable Group For Senior Men's National Coaching Camp
Hockey India has announced a 54-member core probable squad for the upcoming senior men's national coaching camp, beginning on April 25, 2025, at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru. Following their performances at the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025, held in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. Hockey India has selected a core group of 54 players for the upcoming national camp. The camp will be held from April 25-30, 2025, during which the group will be assessed and subsequently pruned down to 40 players. The selected 40 players will then continue training in the next phase of the camp, scheduled from 1 to 25 May 2025. Out of the 54 players, 38 have been retained from the existing core group. The rest have been drafted based on their impressive outings in the recent nationals, with players coming in from Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Punjab, UP Hockey, Hockey Bengal, and Manipur Hockey, as per a press release from Hockey India. The players retained from the existing core group includes, Krishan B Pathak, Suraj Karkera, Pawan, Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar, Amit Rohidas, Varun Kumar, Jugraj Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Amandeep Lakra, Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Yashdeep Siwach, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Sumit, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Poovanna Chandura Boby, Rajinder Singh, Vishnu Kant Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Gurjant Singh, Abhishek, Shilanand Lakra, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Boby Singh Dhami, Selvam Karthi, Sunil Jojo, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Dilpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Sudeep Chirmako, and Angad Bir Singh. The newcomers called up for the camp include, Sanjay B, Ankit Malik, Pratap Lakra, Parmod, Dhanavade Mayur, Ali Ahmad, Aakib Rahim, Arjun Sharma, Yousuf Affan, Laishram Dipu Singh, Venkatesh Kenche, Gursahibjit Singh, Pardeep Singh, Ravi, Uttam Singh, and Maninder Singh. This 54-member squad will undergo a week-long camp from April 25-30, after which it will be trimmed down to a 40-player group for the next phase of the camp, scheduled from May 1 to May 25. Talking about the focus of the upcoming camp, Indian Men's Hockey Team Head Coach Craig Fulton said, "The main aim of this camp is to get everyone back on the field, back in the gym, and moving again. We have had a short break since the nationals, so it is about getting back to the basics. We have a mix of senior players, reserves, and some exciting new faces. This camp is a chance to trial the new players while also assessing where our senior and reserve players stand. We'll gradually build up to playing internal matches in a few days." "Fitness will be a key focus, especially with the final leg of the Pro League coming up in June. This camp is going to be intense--not just physically but across all areas of the game. We're looking at fitness, gameplay, and sharpening overall preparedness," he added. Speaking on the role of junior and new players in this camp, Fulton said, "There is definitely a focus on identifying and developing younger talent. This camp gives us a closer look at some promising junior and new players. At the same time, we are also focusing on reinforcing structure and consistency among our senior group. It is about blending experience with potential and preparing everyone for the road ahead." Notably, the Indian team will also play friendly games in Ireland ahead of the Pro League. "We would not be playing any official tournament before the Pro League, but we are planning a training camp in Ireland. The team will play three friendly matches there. It is going to be an important build-up and a good opportunity to get match-ready in a competitive setting," Fulton said. Listen to the latest songs, only on
United News of India
24-04-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
Hockey India names 54-member core probable group for National Coaching Camp
New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) Hockey India has announced a 54-member core probable squad for the upcoming Senior Men's National Coaching Camp, which will begin on April 25 at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru. Following their performances at the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025, held in Jhansi Uttar Pradesh. Hockey India has selected a core group of 54 players for the upcoming national camp. The camp will be held from April 25 to 30, during which the group will be assessed and subsequently pruned down to 40 players. The selected 40 players will then continue training in the next phase of the camp, scheduled from May 1 to 25. Out of the 54 players, 38 have been retained from the existing core group. The rest have been drafted based on their impressive outings in the recent nationals, with players coming in from Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Hockey Maharashtra, Hockey Punjab, UP Hockey, Hockey Bengal, and Manipur Hockey. The players retained from the existing core group includes, Krishan B Pathak, Suraj Karkera, Pawan, Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar, Amit Rohidas, Varun Kumar, Jugraj Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Amandeep Lakra, Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Yashdeep Siwach, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Sumit, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Poovanna Chandura Boby, Rajinder Singh, Vishnu Kant Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Gurjant Singh, Abhishek, Shilanand Lakra, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Boby Singh Dhami, Selvam Karthi, Sunil Jojo, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Dilpreet Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Sudeep Chirmako, and Angad Bir Singh. The newcomers called up for the camp include, Sanjay B, Ankit Malik, Pratap Lakra, Parmod, Dhanavade Mayur, Ali Ahmad, Aakib Rahim, Arjun Sharma, Yousuf Affan, Laishram Dipu Singh, Venkatesh Kenche, Gursahibjit Singh, Pardeep Singh, Ravi, Uttam Singh, and Maninder Singh. This 54-member squad will undergo a week-long camp from April 25 to 30, after which it will be trimmed down to a 40-player group for the next phase of the camp, scheduled from May 1 to 25. Talking about the focus of the upcoming camp, Indian Men's Hockey Team Head Coach Craig Fulton said, 'The main aim of this camp is to get everyone back on the field, back in the gym, and moving again. We've had a short break since the nationals, so it's about getting back to the basics. We have a mix of senior players, reserves, and some exciting new faces. This camp is a chance to trial the new players while also assessing where our senior and reserve players stand. We'll gradually build up to playing internal matches in a few days.' 'Fitness will be a key focus, especially with the final leg of the Pro League coming up in June. This camp is going to be intense—not just physically but across all areas of the game. We're looking at fitness, gameplay, and sharpening overall preparedness,' he added. Speaking on the role of junior and new players in this camp, Fulton said, 'There's definitely a focus on identifying and developing younger talent. This camp gives us a closer look at some promising junior and new players. At the same time, we're also focusing on reinforcing structure and consistency among our senior group. It's about blending experience with potential and preparing everyone for the road ahead.' Notably, the Indian team will also play friendly games in Ireland ahead of the Pro League. 'We won't be playing any official tournament before the Pro League, but we are planning a training camp in Ireland. The team will play three friendly matches there. It is going to be an important build-up and a good opportunity to get match-ready in a competitive setting,' Fulton said. UNI BM
