Here’s a detailed profile of Shanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma, a shining star in Indian field hockey:
๐ Profile at a Glance
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Full Name: Shanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma
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Born: May 2, 1995 – Kontha Ahallup, Imphal East, Manipur, India (Wikipedia)
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Position: Midfielder
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Height: 1.63 m (Wikipedia)
๐ฑ Journey & Early Life
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Started playing hockey around age 7–8 in 2003. Faced early challenges—practiced in mud, wore football shoes, cycled 5 km daily to train before dawn due to lack of facilities. (India Today)
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In 2011, he moved to the Olympian Ashok Dhyanchand Hockey Academy in Bhopal, which marked a turning point in his development. (India Today)
๐ฅ Domestic & Junior Achievements
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Played for Posterior Hockey Academy Manipur, then Madhya Pradesh Academy, Dabang Mumbai (Hockey India League), Railway Sports Promotion Board, among others. (StarsUnfolded)
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Won Gold at the 2015 Junior Asia Cup and the 2016 Junior World Cup in Lucknow. (StarsUnfolded)
๐ International Career
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Senior debut: India vs Belgium during the 2017 European tour. (The New Indian Express)
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As of early 2025, he earned roughly 138 caps and scored 16 goals. (hockeyindia.org)
๐ Major Tournaments & Medals
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Bronze Medal – Tokyo Olympics 2020, ending India’s 41-year wait. (Rising Kashmir)
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Silver Medal – Commonwealth Games 2022 (Birmingham). (hockeyindia.org)
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Gold Medals:
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Asian Games 2022 (Hangzhou)
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Asian Champions Trophy (2018 in Muscat; 2023 in Chennai; 2024 in China) (hockeyindia.org, hockeyindia.org)
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๐ Style & Impact
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Known as a calm, low-risk, high-efficiency “touch player” who uses vision and field awareness to control play. Harendra Singh noted how Nilakanta scouted spaces, stayed poised under pressure, and consistently distributed the ball forward. (The Indian Express)
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His unflashy yet effective style earned him recognition as a “demolition man” who quietly dismantles opposition structure. (The Indian Express)
๐ Honors & Recognition
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Arjuna Award (2021) for his contributions at Tokyo 2020. (hockeyindia.org)
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Felicitated by Hockey India for surpassing 100 international caps in 2023. (Rising Kashmir)
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Honored by Manipur Police and state officials for representing India at the Paris 2024 Olympics (bronze medallist). (India Today NE)
๐ฌ Personal Highlights
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Despite humble beginnings, Nilakanta showed remarkable perseverance—cycling daily, training early, and often practicing without proper gear. (success-street.com)
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Married Takhelmayum Alina in November 2021. Apart from hockey, he has served as a sports officer working with Youth Affairs & Sports in Manipur. (StarsUnfolded)
๐️ Summary Table
| Category | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Birth & Origin | May 2, 1995 – Imphal East, Manipur |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Caps/Goals | ~138 caps, 16 goals |
| Medals | Tokyo 2020 Bronze, CWG 2022 Silver, Asian Games 2022 Gold, multiple Champions Trophy Golds |
| Key Strengths | Vision, low-risk distribution, midfield control |
| Honors | Arjuna Award, 100-cap felicitation, state recognition |
๐ Would you like:
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A visual timeline of his career?
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A feature article or school project summary in Tamil or English?
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