Birendra Lakra is one of the most experienced player in the current squad. Since his debut in 2010, he has been a consistent started in the team and is a vital cog in the current machinery of defense.He has seen many ups and downs with the national team and has tasted many significant victories.He has appeared 156 times for the senior team.
Birth and the worm of hockey:
He took birth on 3rd February 1990 in Rourkela Odisha. He idolised Dilip Tirkey, a fellow Odisha fullback since his childhood and always wanted to be a able fullback when he grew up. He practised at the SAIL hockey academy in Rourkela. At present he is one of the best fullbacks on the hockey scene. He is a nightmare for every forward. Lakra is one of the most versatile player on the Indian team sheet and has a justified aggression in him which has won him many accolades in the World of Hockey.
A product of a sporting family got first noticed on the Hockey scene in 2009 when he was the star player in FIH junior World Cup winning team in 2009. Lakra first played for the Junior team in 2007 during the Singapore tour. He was first inducted into the senior team in 2010 for the Dhaka SAAF games.After playing in the Junior Olympics in Sydney in 2009, he also played for the senior team in the disappointing journey of 2012 London Olympics.
Carrying the Family Legacy:
Birendra belongs from a family of hockey players with all his siblings practising the trade of Hockey somewhere or the other. After his impressive performance in Senior and Junior team he was bought by the Ranchi franchise in 2013. He played decisive role in the 2013 and 2015 title winning seasons.
Lakra scored the first goal and was instrumental in India's stupendous victory in the final game of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament against France in 2012. He also played a key role in taking India into the semi-finals of 2012 Hockey Champions Trophy.
A gold at the 2014 Asian Games, silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and a bronze medal finish for India in the World League Final of 2015 are few of the noteworthy tournaments where he impressed everyone with his sturdy display on the turf.
A Short Break:
An ACL injury in 2016 which started off as a ligament tear in the right knee in 2015 led to Lakra being ruled out of the Olympic Games which was held in 2016.He missed most of the significant tournaments in 2017. This was a big blow to his career, he also suffered a minor halt in his career due to the aforementioned injury.
Hopes for the upcoming World Cup:
Despite testing times during his period of injury, Lakra has remained resolute and has earnestly worked on his comeback. Hardly amongst the limelight even with such notable achievements, Birendra Lakra, one of Indian Hockey’s most underrated players, is without doubt, the silent guardian of Indian Hockey. He will need to be at his very best if India needs to achieve any success at the World Cup
