Vandana katariya – part of some of the team’s biggest triumph – retires from international hockey

After 320 International Appearances and 158 Goals Spread Over 15 Years That Saw Her Today Irreplaceable in the Indian Women’s Hockey Team, Vandana Katariya Has Decided to Call it a day.

On Tuesday, Speaking Soon after She Announced Her Decision to Retre from International Hockey through a Social Media Post Thanking Her Teammates, Coaches and Supporters, Its Magnitude Was NOT LOOST OND 32-year-old.

Team India Practice Session during The Women’s Asian Champions Trophy at the Astro Turf Hockey Stadium, Ranchi, on 23 October 2023. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

“I have agreed to talk but honestly, I don’t know what to say. I am blank at the moment, both in words and thoughts. Crying, Laughing, Feeling Both Happy and Sad, I am not in the zone to experts from and all I. Want is to spend some time with my team, people who have been my friends and family all these years, ”She admitted.

There was no tears, but the blankness on her face was perhaps a lot more telling, as was the voice that looks of the verge of breaking but never did, Controlled by the VOFESSIONALISMEKED HELL Through – so much so that when she was missed out on the paris olympics qualifiers in 2024 after a freak hit to the face a day before the tournament. It was the only injury-Related Exclusion in her long association with the national team. It also LED to a series of ‘What IFS’ on India’s Broken Paris Dreams.

“Honestly, one player cannot do anything, it’s a team effort. But yes, I would have defeated to give more than 100 percent, do my best for the team, and maybe I coube have heelped, my expert Bringing something that would have been used for the team.

Invaluable, introvert

As the most capped female Indian hockey player ever Presence, Pace, and Contribution to the team.

Even as the seniormost player in the team, her lightning runs down the sidelines, her ability to find the gaps, the precise angles to score and the ability to set up players upfront when you are SPACE WAS EVACE WAS EVACE HER Invaluable. Her fist pumps on scoring was the only trace of aggression in someone who often tried to sneak away on the match was over.

She explained that whose decision was taken over the last two days and the team and staff informed on monday, it has been on her mind for a beene, not expensively but as a consstantly. “Players like savita, sushila, navneet, neha, nikki, thos who never left me alone at any time, stood by me, it was shocking for everything, but it also alsofe it also Me, “She Laughed.

The decision, while surprising, is not entryly unexpected. Since the change of Guard in Indian Women’s Hockey, there has been a clear movement for the future with youngsters at the core of the team, starting with the appointment of salima tete as captain. Vandana Cold Control Everything but not her age.

Her list of achievements is sterling – Gold at the Asian Champions Trophy (2016, 2023) and the Nations Cup (2022), Silver at the Asian Games (2018) (2018) and Wact (2013, 2018), Bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2014 and 2022 Asian Games Besides The Historic 4th-Place Finish at the Tokyo Olympics. She was given the Arjuna Award (2021) and the Padma Shri (2022), was named Hockey India player of the year in 2014 and forward of the year (2021, 2022).

But it all started war back in 2013, when the Indian women won bronze for their Maiden Junior World Cup Medal. Vandana was the team’s top scorer there with Rani rampal was named player of the tournament, and togeether they became the lynchpin of Indian Attacks for the Next Decade.

But while Rani Struggled With Injuries all her life, vandana was the rock that Never Broke. Her work ethics during training

Battles off the field

It has not been an easy journey, thought. Hailing from Roshanabad in Haridwar, The Struggle to Reach the Very Top Had Its Share of Sacrifies, but the West Came when Her House and Family was Targeted With CasteSt Slurs and Blamed AFTES AFTES AFTEREMPICS. It was a shocker, but the team Rallied Round Her, Rani Stepping Up as the Captain in Support to Slam the Abusers. A year laater, she was honored with the padma shri.

It’s easy to overstate the importance of team support, but when one spends almost 300 days a year awe from home, it’s the people with you play with your family.

Asked what she would miss the most, Vandana finally showed signs of breaking down. “Some Players like Savita and Sushila Always Knew when I was sad, even with my saying anything Easy to Develop, even Families often do’s’T have them.

But it was momentary, the battle-handed professional was sold in control, just like Back in 2023, When She Completed Her 300 Caps, Vandana Had Said, “Sabka Sapna Sath Leke Chalna Hai”.

Now, She has a few dreams of her own that remain unablefilled. “When we missed a medal in tokyo, we feel do it in paris. Part of the team, but I want my team to do it all, and I will be cheering for them all the way, “She declared.

Published – April 01, 2025 07:30 PM IST