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Tokyo Olympic stars Rupinder Ideal friend Singh, Birendra Lakra notify retirement

Novel Delhi: Dawdle-flicker Rupinder Ideal friend Singh, who played a starring aim within the Indian hockey crew’s historic bronze-worthwhile Tokyo Olympics campaign, on Thursday supplied his worldwide retirement with rapid end “to assemble capability for youths”. The 30-12 months-former, design to be one in all the top doubtless slither-flickers of the nation, represented India in 223 suits.

Nicknamed ‘Bob’, Rupinder scored four vital dreams, including a penalty stroke within the third-station match against Germany, all over India’s bronze-medal worthwhile campaign in Tokyo. The dedication came as a shock given that going by his fitness and make, he clearly had some extra years left within the recreation. 

Hi everybody, wanted to portion a vital announcement with you all. pic.twitter.com/CwLFQ0ZVvj

— Rupinder Ideal friend Singh (@rupinderbob3) September 30, 2021

“The past couple of months have positively been the top doubtless days of my lifestyles. Standing on the podium in Tokyo alongside with my teammates with whom I in actuality have shared about a of the most unbelievable experiences of my lifestyles was once a sense I will fancy perpetually,” Rupinder wrote in an announcement on his legit Twitter tackle. “I mediate it is time for me to assemble capability for younger and talented players to ride every tall pleasure that I in actuality have felt in these last 13 years of representing India.”

Rupinder’s stride from Faridkot in Punjab to the podium in Tokyo was once plump of hardships and numerous alternative comebacks. Rapidly after making his worldwide debut in Might possibly possibly well simply 2010 within the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Rupinder modified into a first-rate cog in India’s backline and alongside with VR Raghunath, formed a deadly dragflick combination.

Aside from his courageous defending, Rupinder was once the ‘glide-to’ man for any skipper for penalty corner and plot scenarios. Rupinder’s effectively-built physique and noteworthy frame was once a foul look for any crew’s defence in penalty corner scenarios. He was once moreover identified for his effectively-kept adaptations. He was once named as vice-captain of India’s 2014 World Cup campaign besides being a member of the Commonwealth Games silver medal-worthwhile aspect the identical 12 months.

Rupinder has two Asian Games medals in his kitty — a gold in 2014 Incheon and bronze in 2018 Jakarta. However he modified into one in all the scapegoats after the Asian Games disappointment as he was once largely no longer smartly-known within the overhaul of the crew.

In between, accidents too didn’t abet his reason as a hamstring difficulty nearly ended his occupation in 2017, a time he once described because the “toughest piece” of his lifestyles.

Harmanpreet Singh benefitted the most from Rupinder’s six-month prolonged hurt lay-off but after his worthwhile return, the 2 modified into India’s trump cards from quick corners and their pairing persisted till Tokyo.

Rupinder’s finest success came in this 12 months’s Tokyo Games. “I in actuality have had the respect of wearing the India jersey in 223 suits and each of those suits were particular. I’m leaving the crew feeling satisfied and state as we have now conquered the top doubtless dream which was once to retract an Olympic medal for India,” he said.

“I will elevate with me nothing but tall recollections of taking part in with about a of the most talented players in world hockey and I in actuality have immense respect for every person in all them,” he said. “My teammates were a tall pillar of make stronger all these years and I need them the top doubtless as they surge ahead in taking India to more moderen heights in hockey.”

Rupinder credited his success to his chums and family, in particular his folks. “None of this success I revel in on the present time would were that it is doubtless you’ll possibly possibly possibly believe without the make stronger and encouragement from my chums and family, in particular my mom and father. I walked into every match thinking of them.”

He moreover thanked Hockey India and all folks that played a large share in shaping his occupation. “I thank Hockey India for having faith in me all these years. I moreover thank Baba Shershah Wali academy and coaches, Firozpur the put my stride in hockey started. I thank my chums and coaches from Faridkot from the put I in actuality have some lawful recollections as a younger participant,” Rupinder said.

“I moreover thank coaches gradual Shri Jasbir Singh Bajwa, Shri OP Ahlawat and my chums from Chandigarh Hockey Academy who played a large aim in my youth as a participant.”

Birendra Lakra too hangs his boots 

Olympic bronze medal-worthwhile Indian hockey superstar Birendra Lakra on Thursday supplied that he is quitting the recreation with rapid end, hours after his teammate Rupinder supplied his retirement. Lakra’s retirement was once supplied by Hockey India on its legit Twitter tackle. 

 Caps


 Olympic Bronze Medallist

A solid defender and one in all the most influential Indian Men’s Hockey Team of workers figures, the Odisha superstar has supplied his retirement from the Indian nationwide crew.

Gratified Retirement, Birendra Lakra. #IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/p8m8KkWDb4

— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) September 30, 2021

“A solid defender and one in all the most influential Indian Men’s Hockey Team of workers figures, the Odisha superstar has supplied his retirement from the Indian nationwide crew. Gratified Retirement, Birendra Lakra,” HI tweeted.

The 31-12 months-former Lakra, a defender, was once share of India’s bronze medal-worthwhile aspect within the Tokyo Olympics. He was once moreover share of the 2014 gold medal-worthwhile Incheon Asian Games crew and the aspect that claimed bronze in 2018 Jakarta.

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