Sunil decides to call time after a day of drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh and protector Birendra Lakra, who played key roles in the Indian hockey team’s historic bronze medalist Tokyo Olympics The campaign announced his international retirement on Friday.
Sunil, 32, hailing from Karnataka, was not part of the team that participated in the Tokyo Olympics. Sunil said it is time for him to make room for young players and help build a winning team for the future. The senior player scored 72 goals in 264 India matches.
“… Time to take a break. After more than 14 years of wearing India’s colors for the first time, I have decided to make myself unavailable for the national camp starting next week,” said Sunil, who along with a I grew up playing hockey. Due to limited resources of his family, Bamboo Stick said in a statement on his Twitter handle.
Making a statement… #Hockey @TheHockeyIndia https://t.co/eg9Al6J5ut
— SV Sunil | .. (@SVSunil24) 1633076876000
“It wasn’t the easiest decision, but it wasn’t the hardest either, considering I didn’t make it for the team. Tokyo Games. This omission put a question mark on my future as a player in the 11-a-side format.
“With 2024” Paris Olympics Three years away, I feel, as a senior player it is important that I pave the way for the youngsters and help build a winning team for the future.”
The Arjuna Awardee from Somwarpet, Coorg, made his international debut in 2007 in the Asia Cup, which India won by defeating Pakistan in the final.
After that there was no looking back for the fast striker and he was a part of India’s incredible growth in global hockey.
The two-time Olympian (2012 and 2016) continued to be a key player in the Indian forward-line for over a decade with outstanding performances.
He was in the Indian team that won gold in the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy and silver in the same event in 2012.
Apart from gold in Asia Cup 2017, he also won gold and bronze medals in 2014 and 2018 Asian Games respectively.
He was instrumental in the team’s historic silver medal wins in 2016 and 2018. FIH Champions Trophy.
In his long career, Sunil also led the forward-line in 2015 world league final Where the team won the bronze medal and he was also part of the bronze medal winning team in the same event in Bhubaneswar in 2017.
He also has a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games 2014 to his name.
Congratulations to Sunil for his contribution to Indian Hockey. Hockey India President Gyanendro Ningombam said, “SV Sunil has been an inspiration to an entire generation of young hockey players.
“His commitment to the game and discipline was unmatched and he has given Indian hockey some very memorable performances.”
Sunil said that he will be available to play the shorter format of the game (5-a-side hockey).
He said that the gold in the 2014 Asian Games was a turning point in his career.
“I am grateful that I represented my country in 2012 in London and at two Olympic Games rio in 2016.
“I’ve seen so much on and off the pitch in the last 14 years. I’ve faced personal tragedies, career-threatening injuries and other setbacks to focus on giving my best for the country.”
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