Vandana Katariya bid retirement to International Hockey after a Glorious 15 years of Career
Vandana Katariya. A padlock is put on the vault of a glorious career that lasted 15 long years with this announcement of her official retirement from the international field of hockey. With a record of 320 international caps that earned an impressive 158 goals, Vandana leaves the sport as the highest-capped women’s player in India. But these statistics alone cannot encapsulate the legacy of Vandana, whose name will always be associated with resilience, determination, and undying devotion to Indian hockey.
32-year-old Vandana has been the lifeline of Indian hockey with her senior debut as far back as 2009. With her contributions, she holds an unparalleled place in a team’s podium success, none more so than capturing India’s historic fourth place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She made history during the tournament by becoming the first and only Indian female to score a hat trick at the Olympic Games.
An Emotional Goodbye
For the first time playing an international match during the Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25 in February, Vandana ended up announcing her retirement with the following reflections made on the emotional moment while recapitulating the decision:
“This was an extremely tough decision; however, I recognize that it’s the perfect moment. Hockey has been my entire life for as long as I can remember, and wearing the Indian jersey was the greatest honour. But every journey has its course, and I leave with great pride, gratitude, and love for the sport. Indian hockey is in great hands, and I’ll always be its biggest supporter.”
Gratitude and Farewell
Again, for the last time, she said “Thank You” from her heart, first to everyone who had contributed to making her journey special: “I want to thank my coaches, teammates, support staff, Hockey India, my family, and all the fans who have supported me over the years. Every cheer, every message, and every word mattered to me.”
Enduring Legacy
Vandana retiring from international hockey now inspires generations to take forward her inspiring legacy. From a small town in Uttarakhand, she climbed up to be one of the best hockey players in India, whose life will inspire a young generation of athletes who dream to one day represent their country. She may have put an end to her international career, but her mark made on the very forums will continue with Indian hockey shortly.
Related Posts
