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India Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Two-time Olympic medallist Lalit Upadhyay retires from international hockey
Two-time Olympic medallist Lalit Kumar Upadhyay announced his retirement from international hockey on Sunday, bringing to a close a decorated career that spanned over a decade and transformed him from a small-town dreamer into one of India's most dependable announcement came shortly after India wrapped up their FIH Pro League season with a thrilling 4-3 win over Belgium. The 31-year-old, who hails from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, leaves behind a legacy marked by resilience, skill and two historic Olympic bronze medals-Tokyo 2020 and Paris journey began in a small village, with limited resources but limitless dreams. From facing a sting operation to standing on the Olympic podium - not once, but twice - it's been a path full of challenges, growth, and unforgettable pride. Becoming an Olympian from my city after 26 years is something I'll always carry with honour and gratitude," Lalit wrote in an emotional post on his social media I announce my retirement from international a tough moment, but one every athlete must face one has been the greatest honour and pride of my life to represent our countryThank you for everything. @HockeyIndiaLeag @TheHockeyIndia Lalit Upadhyay (@lalithockey) June 22, 2025 Upadhyay, who made his senior international debut in 2014, amassed more than 179 caps and scored over 40 goals for India. He was widely admired for his slick stick-work, attacking creativity and commitment on the pitch. Yet, his path to success was anything but 2008, at just 17, Lalit found himself at the centre of a controversial sting operation aimed at exposing corruption in Indian hockey. Though later exonerated, the fallout saw him dropped from the national programme, leaving his career in tatters. The setback almost led him to quit the sport with the guidance of his first coach Shri Parmanand Mishra and the unwavering support of former India captain Dhanraj Pillay-who helped him secure a contract with Air India in 2010-Lalit began to rebuild. His revival continued in 2014 with a job at BPCL, courtesy of Tushar Khandker, and a stint with the Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India soon became a vital cog in India's midfield, contributing to major continental victories including gold medals at the 2016 and 2018 Asian Champions Trophies, and the 2017 Asia Cup. He also helped India win bronze at the 2017 Hockey World League Final and silver at the 2018 Champions Trophy."Today, I announce my retirement from international hockey. It's a tough moment, but one every athlete must face one day. It has been the greatest honour and pride of my life to represent our country. Thank you for everything," Lalit posted from his official X his farewell note, Lalit acknowledged the many individuals and institutions that played key roles in his journey. "To my first coach Shri Parmanand Mishra, who introduced me to hockey and built my foundation. To Harender Sir, who gave me my first break by picking me in Air India. To Sameer Bhai and Dhanraj Sir, who mentored me with care and belief during that time. To BPCL, for offering me a job and giving me 8 meaningful years of work and growth. To my friends and teammates, who made the journey unforgettable. To Hockey India for giving me the opportunity to wear the national jersey. And to the state government, for honouring my journey by appointing me as a DSP - a responsibility I hold with pride."But perhaps the most touching tribute was reserved for his teammate and current India captain, Harmanpreet Singh. "Hockey has given me everything, and you're one of its greatest gifts, brother," wrote with the Arjuna Award in 2021, Lalit's story is one of grit, grace and redemption. His contribution to Indian hockey transcends statistics-he has inspired a generation of players from humble backgrounds to believe that with perseverance and passion, even the toughest setbacks can be overcome
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
‘Proud father' Jacques Brinkman lauds son Thierry's leadership in earning long-awaited Dutch glory
Kolkata: This Father's Day will be quite special for Jacques Brinkman. It's not every year that your son wins a gold medal at the Olympics and his son Thierry did exactly that at the Paris Games when he led the Netherlands hockey team to a gold — a first after 25 years. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Incidentally, the last time the Dutch side won the gold at the Sydney Olympics, Jacques played a pivotal role as they beat South Korea in the final via penalty shoot-outs. But seeing his son lead the team to the top of the podium after beating Germany in the final was something even more special for Jacques. "It was fantastic to see your child achieve the highest possible goal in sports. Being surrounded by all the family and friends made it unbelievable. After the winning shoot-out, when they secured the gold medal, there were definitely tears — happy tears," said Jacques, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, during an exclusive interview with TOI. While Jacques did have a huge influence on Thierry becoming a hockey player, he took a step back after a while and left it to the coaches to train him properly. "I helped out until Thierry was about 14 or 15. After that, I stepped back to support my other children — Tim and Julie. Thierry is the oldest, so I was more involved in his early years, but then shifted focus as they grew," he added. Whatever he did worked wonders and Jacques is extremely more than proud of what Thierry has become today. "I'm a proud father, of course, but his leadership as a captain is something special. During the celebrations in the Netherlands, Thierry gave a speech to his teammates, and it really showed how naturally he leads," he added. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Jacques was also impressed with the way Thierry handled the situation following the Olympic final when a brawl broke out after Duco Telgenkamp of the Netherlands scored past German keeper Jean-Paul Danneberg and performed a shushing gesture in his face, before appearing to slap his helmet. Besides his performance for the national team, Jacques also followed his son's exploits in the Hockey India League where Thierry played for the Kalinga Lancers. While Lancers failed to make it to the knockouts, Jacques is quite hopeful that the tournament will certainly change the landscape of Indian hockey in the coming years. "The difference between top teams is very small. Winning two Olympic bronzes is a fantastic achievement. India have great players like Harmanpreet Singh, who's excellent with penalty corners. Their goalkeeper (PR Sreejesh) retired recently, which is always a big change. But they're definitely back at the top. The Hockey India League has helped with that," added Brinkman senior. While many believe that will indeed be the case, for now, all eyes are on the World Cup set to take place in the Netherlands and Belgium in a year's time — where Jacques is hopeful of yet another Dutch victory.
NDTV
26-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
From 'Double Jalebi' To Olympic Dreams: Angad Bir Singh Shares His Hockey Journey
Every athlete has a signature move-something that sets them apart. For Angad Bir Singh, 22, who represented the Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League (HIL), that move was the now-viral 'double jalebi', a trick shot that made him an overnight internet sensation. During a tense match against the Tamil Nadu Dragons, Angad stunned fans and players alike with a bold, never-seen-before shootout move. He beat the towering David Harte with flair, sending the ball cleanly into the net. What followed was a storm of likes, shares, and messages that flooded Angad's inbox. What seemed magical to the outside world was, in reality, the product of relentless hard work. "I've done a lot of training for this," Angad said. "Even now, during training sessions in the Indian camp, I regularly practice it. When the HIL camp was set up, I focused even more because I knew there would be more chances of shootouts. My hard work paid off, and I was able to execute it well. I'm humbled by the response-I never thought it would become so popular. It's definitely motivating, and I'm going to continue practicing and improving it." That one viral moment was backed by serious preparation. The Double Jalebi wasn't just a flashy move-it was a carefully crafted shot built with the right ingredients: instinct, hours of drills, match pressure, and fearless execution. His discipline and performance caught the eye of national coaches, eventually earning him a spot on the Indian senior team for the FIH Pro League. Angad trained alongside international greats like Thierry Brinkman and Alexander Hendrickx. His discipline and performance impressed Kalinga Lancers coach Valentin Altenburg, who was thoroughly impressed by the "sharp, fearless, and unique trick" - a perfect mix of instinct and training under pressure. Reflecting on his journey, the 22-year-old star shared how he had always dreamed of wearing the Indian jersey. "Everyone who takes up a sport professionally dreams of playing for India-it was the same for me. The transition from junior to senior hockey wasn't easy, but it was exciting. The level of play is quite different. There's much more pressure at the senior level. Senior hockey involves a lot of tactical play, whereas junior hockey focuses more on the basics," he explained. What began as a childhood dream soon became a driving passion. Eager to learn, Angad Bir Singh closely observed senior players like Harmanpreet Singh and Hardik Singh, using every opportunity to grow his game. "I've played at the junior level, represented my state, played in the HIL, made my debut for India, and competed in the Nationals. All of this has given me confidence. My dream is to bring an Olympic gold medal to India. We have the World Cup coming up next year, and there's still time before the Olympics. I want to dedicate all my time to learning and improving so I can help achieve that goal," he said. With a Pro League debut behind him and a growing presence on the national stage, Angad Bir Singh now has his eyes on the biggest prize of all-and he's working every day to get there.
