Two-time Olympic medallist Lalit Kumar Upadhyay has announced his retirement from international hockey on Olympic Day. The Indian forward, who hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, made the announcement on Sunday, bringing an end to a stellar career that spanned over a decade. While he is retiring from international events, the 31-year-old will continue to play for his domestic team and the UP Police, where he serves as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
Upadhyay's international career began in 2014, and he went on to represent India in 183 matches, scoring 67 goals. He was a key member of the Indian team that won bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics. In addition to his Olympic achievements, Upadhyay also participated in two Commonwealth Games, winning a silver medal at the 2022 Birmingham edition and finishing fourth at the 2018 Gold Coast edition. He also played in three World Cups and two Asian Games, securing two gold medals and one bronze. Lalit played in four matches of the eight that India played in Europe to close out their 2024-'25 Pro League season. The last match he played was against Australia in on 15 June.
Reflecting on his decision, Upadhyay said he had been contemplating retirement for a while and felt he had fulfilled all the commitments he made to himself. He expressed immense satisfaction with his long and wonderful career, highlighting that retiring on Olympic Day held special significance for him, as he began his hockey journey with the dream of playing in the Olympics.
Upadhyay shared an emotional post on his social media, acknowledging the challenges and triumphs he experienced throughout his career. He spoke about his journey from a small village with limited resources to standing on the Olympic podium twice. He expressed gratitude to his family, his first coach Paramanand Mishra, who introduced him to hockey, Harender Sir, who gave him his first break by picking him in Air India, Sameer Bhai and Dhanraj Sir, who mentored him and BPCL for offering him a job. He also thanked his friends and teammates, Hockey India, and the state government for honoring him with the position of DSP. He reserved a special note of thanks for current India captain Harmanpreet Singh.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey lauded Upadhyay as one of the most graceful and dedicated forwards of his generation. Tirkey acknowledged Upadhyay's consistent pride and heart while wearing the Indian jersey, whether in crucial Olympic matches or league games.
Upadhyay's journey was not without its hurdles. In 2008, he was caught in a TV sting operation that led to the disbanding of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and temporarily damaged his reputation. Despite considering quitting hockey at the age of 17, he persevered and eventually made his breakthrough. Dhanraj Pillay helped him secure a contract with Air India in 2010, and later, Tushar Khandker assisted him in getting a job at BPCL. Around the same time, Upadhyay was selected for Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League. He also helped India win bronze at the 2017 Hockey World League Final and silver at the 2018 Champions Trophy.
