Overlooked In India, Lakra Of Odisha Signs To Play Hockey One In Australia

Bhubaneswar: Overlooked in India since 2022, Odisha hockey international Shilanand Lakra has been signed by HC Melbourne to play Hockey One, the premier domestic hockey league of Australia in October this year. The new opportunity is expected to pave the way for the mercurial forward to make a comeback to the Indian men’s team.

This signing aligns with the strategic plan Hockey One, which allows each club to have one international athlete to boost the international footprint in the league. Lakra, a rising star with 28 appearances for the Indian national team since his debut in 2018, is expected to bring his international experience to the HC Melbourne lineup.

“Shilanand Lakra is a fantastic addition to our forward line,” said Hockey Victoria CEO Andrew Skillern. “His experience and skill will undoubtedly strengthen our team. This signing also represents a significant step forward in solidifying our partnership with Odisha and India, a region with a rich hockey tradition.”

The 25-year-old hails from Kalijapathar village in Sundargarh district, India. Before embarking on his hockey career, Lakra trained for a year to become a priest. However, his passion for hockey ultimately led him to the SAIL Hockey Academy in August 2015.

The SAIL Hockey Academy, established in 1992 in Rourkela, has been instrumental in nurturing the talent in Lakra. The Academy boasts two modern synthetic turfs and is home to 200 emerging players from the Sundargarh district.

HC Melbourne looks forward to the contributions of Lakra on the field and is confident he will be a valuable asset to the team. The season opener of HC Melbourne will kick off on October 11 where HC Melbourne take on the Adelaide Fire in Adelaide.

After a bye in Round 2 HC Melbourne will play three home games this year. They will take on Perth Thundersticks October 26 (Round 3), NSW Pride on November 1 (Round 4) and Tasmania Tigers on November 22 (Round 4).

Organised by Hockey Australia since 2019, Hockey One 2024 will be the fourth edition of the league with seven men and as many women teams in the fray. HC Melbourne is an Australian professional field hockey club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club was established in 2019.

The signing of Lakra by HC Melbourne has come as a heart-warming development for his SAIL Academy coach Rajukant Saini. “Shilanand is the fastest among Indian forwards and the opportunity to play Hockey One should help him get back his place in the National team. He also could prove himself as the best forward in the 2024 Hockey India League.”

Speaking on the struggling years of Lakra, Saini said: “A knee injury that kept him off the turf and he needed time to recover. Now he is as fit as a fiddle and excited to resume his career. He has also improved his scoring ability by working hard at SAIL Academy in Rourkela and High-Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar.”

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF SHILANAND LAKRA:

* Bronze medal at 6th Mens Asian Champions Trophy, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2021.

* Silver medal at 28th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Tournament, Ipoh, Malaysia, 2019.

* Silver medal at 8th Sultan of Johar Cup U-23 Tournament, Johar Bahru, Malaysia, 2018.

* Bronze medal at Five-Nation U-23 Tournament, Antwerp, Belgium, 2018.

* Silver medal at 7th Sultan of Johar Cup U-23 Tournament, Johar Bahru, Malaysia, 2017.