Rajgir, Bihar, Sep 5 (PTI): Perseverance and grit have been the cornerstones of Shilanand Lakra’s journey. The Indian striker conquered a career-threatening injury and the devastating loss of his father to make a comeback to the national team after a two-year hiatus, now playing in the ongoing Asia Cup. Shilanand, aged 26, hails from the Sundergarh district of Odisha, renowned as the hockey hub of India. His ordeal began when he twisted his ankle in May 2022 during a routine training session before the FIH Pro League. This led to multiple surgeries on his knee, sidelining him from the sport for two long years.
During his initial rehabilitation phase, tragedy struck again with the loss of his father, a mason who suffered a fatal accident. "It was a forgettable phase of my life," Shilanand shared with PTI, reflecting on his experience during the men’s Asia Cup hockey tournament. "I had ACL, PCL, and meniscus injuries simultaneously. It was a major setback. I wish no player ever experiences such a phase in their career," he added. After undergoing surgery, Shilanand began walking and jogging a month later, beginning his journey from scratch. For two years, he remained in the camp, dedicated purely to rehabilitation. However, he never lost belief in his comeback, inspired by senior players who had returned from similar injuries.
However, a new storm loomed as Shilanand lost his father, who tragically fell from a height in 2021 during the construction of his own house. "Papa was a mason; he met with an accident while building his house. It was his final project. He had said, ‘After building my own house, I will quit, since my son is achieving something now,’" an emotional Shilanand revealed. Despite undergoing several surgeries, his father’s injuries proved fatal. Shilanand kept his knee surgery a secret from his family to avoid adding to their worries.
Triumphantly, Shilanand has returned to the national hockey team. He made a significant impact by providing an excellent assist and scoring with a deft deflection in India’s 4-1 victory over Malaysia in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup. "I can’t even recall when I last scored an international goal, but I did before my injury," he commented, recalling the two-year recovery period. Nevertheless, Shilanand is not yet fulfilled and seeks consistency in his performance. "Returning to the team requires hard work. Although I was in the core group, I wasn’t in the playing team. I still haven’t achieved the satisfaction I seek. I aim to do much better," he expressed, eager to consistently enhance his game and contribute more to the team.
India’s chief coach, Craig Fulton, is well aware of Shilanand’s capabilities and knows how to maximize his potential. "Shilanand is finding his footing again. It’s not easy to play in an Indian tournament after such a break. It takes time," Fulton noted. He praised Shilanand's natural abilities, emphasizing his quickness, ability to press, score, pass, and dodge. "Once he is comfortable and mentally in the right place, you will witness him shine," Fulton concluded.
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