Lakra is only one of the two new faces in the ongoing senior national camp, which is a testament to his grit and resurgence. The call-up follows a standout performance at the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025, where he played a key role in taking Madhya Pradesh to a Silver-medal finish.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was not easy to come back after the lockdown,\u201d Lakra reflects. \u201cI lost fitness and momentum. For a while, it felt like everything I\u2019d worked for was slipping away. But I didn\u2019t give up - I kept training, kept showing up.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lakra\u2019s journey began like many young boys in Sundargarh - with a hockey stick in hand, playing barefoot in the village fields. His father, who also played hockey in his village, and his elder sister Preeti, who represented Odisha at the national level, laid the foundation for his love of the game. \u201cWe are a family of farmers, but hockey runs deep in our roots,\u201d Lakra says. \u201cMy sister joined a sports hostel first and inspired me to take the sport seriously.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also, the financial struggles in his early years didn\u2019t deter him \u2014 in fact, they shaped him. \u201cThere was a time when I didn\u2019t have proper shoes to play. A kind-hearted official from Hockey Gangpur Odisha helped me out. Little things like that kept me going,\u201d he shares.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lakra\u2019s early career had shown immense promise. After beginning his hockey journey around the age of 9 in his village, he joined the renowned Panposh Sports Hostel in Rourkela in 2011. He rose through the ranks quickly, earning a place in the Indian junior team and playing in tournaments like the Sultan of Johor Cup (2017, 2019) and the 8 Nations Invitational in Spain (2019).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But when the pandemic struck in 2020, Lakra, like many athletes, found himself adrift. He was released from the junior national camp, his fitness dropped, and opportunities dried up. \u201cIt was a tough phase,\u201d he says. \u201cThere were days when I trained alone on the Railway team\u2019s turf, just running and working on my game without knowing what would come next.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lakra's resilience paid off and he worked his way back into competitive hockey through Railways tournaments and eventually secured a job with South Central Railway in 2018 under the sports quota, giving him the stability to continue training and competing. By 2024, he was back in the thick of things, representing Odisha at the Senior Nationals, and then switching to play for Madhya Pradesh in 2025. The move proved pivotal - his defensive discipline and consistency were impossible to ignore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His recent performance with Madhya Pradesh at the Senior Nationals - including a hard-fought final against Punjab - earned him his long-awaited call-up to the senior national camp. \u201cIt was a tough tournament. Playing against top Indian players was a learning experience. The final taught me a lot about team combinations and high-pressure play.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lakra, who plays in defence and also as a drag-flicker, idolises Indian greats Birendra Lakra and Rupinder Pal Singh. \u201cI chose to play in defence after watching Birendra Lakra - the way he controlled the game from the back really inspired me. When it came to dragflicking, I closely followed Rupinder Pal Singh - his technique and precision taught me a lot.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pratap also gained experience with the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League 2024-25. While he didn\u2019t get many chances to play, he says it was an eye-opener. \u201cBeing around international and senior players helped me understand the game at a different level. I stayed focused and tried to make every opportunity count.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Now in the senior national camp, Lakra remains grounded. \u201cMy goal is to improve my fitness and skills. I want to be disciplined, work hard, and earn a place in the Indian team. My ultimate dream is to win an Olympic gold for the country.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pratap also gained experience with the Vedanta Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League 2024-25. While he didn\u2019t get many chances to play, he says it was an eye-opener. \u201cBeing around international and senior players helped me understand the game at a different level. I stayed focused and tried to make every opportunity count.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> LIVE Cricket Score<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n