Bhubaneswar: India hockey team midfielder Nilakanta Sharma has said that the bronze-medal success at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was “just the beginning”, adding that the team has set certain targets in the next Olympic cycle and is focused on achieving them.
The Manipur youngster, who is in the 20-member Indian squad which will face Spain in the FIH Pro League double-header on February 26 and 27, added that he has been “quite fortunate” in his career to play at the junior and senior level.
“Most of us in the team believe the Olympic medal was just the beginning. We have set certain targets in this Olympic cycle and we are focused on achieving those targets,” said Nilakanta ahead of the first match against Spain.The sport has changed Nilakanta’s life and he is now a regular feature in Hockey India’s national programme. First, it was his stint with the junior India team in 2014 when he was a part of the India Colts side that lifted the Sultan of Johor Cup beating Great Britain in the final.The midfielder played a key role in the team winning the Junior World Cup in 2016 at Lucknow.
Nilakanta was soon called up to represent the senior side in 2017. Since then, the 26-year-old has not looked back as he has gone on to cement his place in India’s midfield.“I have been fortunate in my career so far and I will continue to work hard, and execute my role in the team as expected of me,” added Nilakanta.
Looking back at his journey, Nilakanta said he was the only Manipuri hockey player in the squad that won the historic Olympic bronze in Tokyo last year……AGENCIES