Birendra Lakra
Birendra Lakra (born 3 February 1990) is an Indian former field hockey player. He represents India in men's field hockey and recently came out of retirement alongside Rupinderpal Singh and will be the Captain of Indian team in the Asia Cup to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia. In Tokyo 2020 also, he had been selected as Vice Captain of Indian team. Lakra's elder brother Bimal has played as a midfielder for India. His sister Asunta Lakra has played for India's women's hockey team and has captained the side and in 2021 he was awarded with Arjuna award.[1]
 Lakra in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
3 February 1990 Lachchada, Sundargarh, Odisha, India | ||
| Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Weight | 68 kg (150 lb) | ||
| Playing position |
Defender Arjuna awardee | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | BPCL | ||
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2012 | Chandigarh Comets | ||
| BPCL | |||
| –2008 | Orissa Steelers | ||
| 2013–2014 | Ranchi Rhinos | ||
| 2015–2017 | Ranchi Rays | ||
| 2017– | BPCL | ||
| National team | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2022 | India | 208 | (10) |
Medal record | |||
| Last updated on: 5 August 2021 | |||
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon}
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon}
.svg.png.webp){kind=icon}
Personal life
Birendra Lakra was born on 3 February 1990 in the village of Lachchada in the Sundargarh District of Odisha, on the border with Jharkhand. He was born to a family belonging to an Oraon tribe.
Career
Birendra Lakra is a player for the Rourkela Steel Plant's SAIL Hockey Academy.[2] He was included in the Indian junior team for the first time for the Singapore tour in 2007. He represented India in the Test series against South Africa in 2012, in the Champions Challenge tournament in South Africa in 2011, at the SAAF Games at Dhaka in 2010, at the Youth Olympics at Sydney in 2009 and at the Junior World Cup at Singapore in 2009.
He scored the first goal in India's victory in the final game of the Olympic Hockey Qualifying Tournament against France. He played a key role in taking India in to the semifinals of 2012 Champions Trophy. India defeated Belgium with the help of a single goal that was produced by the pass given by Birendra Lakra to the forward. With this India reached the semifinals of the Champions Trophy for the first time in eight years.
At the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Lakra won a silver medal with India.[3]
Hockey India League
In the auction of the inaugural Hockey India League season, Lakra was bought by the Ranchi franchise for US$41,000[4] with his base price being US$9,250. The Ranchi team was named Ranchi Rhinos. The team finished first in the inaugural season and third in the 2014 season. Following disputes between the franchise and Hockey India, the team decided to pull out, after which Lakra signed with the Ranchi Rays franchise from the 2015 season.[5]
References
- "New Indian women's hockey captain: Asunta from Lakra family of Simdega!". Bihar Days. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- "Profile: Birendra Lakra". NDTV. 20 July 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- "Glasgow 2014 - Birendra Lakra Profile". g2014results.thecgf.com. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- "Hockey India League Auction: the final squads list". CNN-IBN. 16 December 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- "Ranchi Rhinos make way for the Ranchi Rays". austinsmith.co.za. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
External links
- Birendra Lakra at Hockey India
- Birendra Lakra at the International Hockey Federation
- Birendra Lakra at Olympedia
- Birendra Lakra at the Commonwealth Games Federation (archived)