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Vandana Katariya retired from Indian hockey citing mental pressure and team management neglect but remains open to returning.
Indian hockey star Vandana Katariya (L).
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Veteran Indian hockey striker Vandana Katariya has attributed her shock retirement in April to ‘mental pressure’ due to the team management’s alleged neglect and the high frequency of matches she was spending on the bench.
Katariya, 33, retired after 320 matches and scoring 158 goals over a distinguished career of 15 years. Having made her debut in 2009, she’s still the most capped player in Indian women’s hockey. Katariya won three Asian Games medals and is also the only Indian woman with a hat-trick at the Olympics.
“When I felt that they (team management) didn’t have any expectation from me, that was the trigger, and it was putting mental pressure on me. I was fit and capable but I was suffering as well, so I thought it was the end,” Katariya told PTI. “My morale was down, we do practice with confidence, but don’t get returns sometimes. I don’t say the young players who are coming are not good; they are superb. They are well aware about the routine, but it somewhere pains me to play a match and then sit outside for next two matches.
“If a player is deliberately put under pressure and broken, that was the endpoint for me. It (retirement) was going on in my mind for long, I was little mentally down as well.”
Katariya also offered to reverse her decision and return if needed.
“I know I can still play. I still respect hockey and as a player if I am needed I am still there. I have become very strong now. Coaches come and go but it was difficult to leave the team with which I had spent majority of my life,” she said.
“Since retirement I have followed the same routine, and I don’t think I am away from the women’s national team. For me it’s just to play the game, play easy. I just want to follow the same schedule and play as I used to before retiring. I am always ready to give back to the game in any form because hockey has given me a lot. Even as a player I am still ready if needed to help in any way. I am still fit as earlier and give my 100 per cent.”
December 27, 2025, 19:34 IST
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