HC Melbourne is excited to announce the signing of Indian forward Shilanand Lakra for the upcoming Hockey One season in October.
Lakra, a rising star with 28 appearances for the Indian national team since his debut in 2018, brings international experience to the HC Melbourne lineup.
This signing aligns with Hockey One’s strategic plan, which allows each club to have one international athlete to boost the league’s international footprint.
“Shilanand Lakra is a fantastic addition to our forward line,” said Hockey Victoria CEO Andrew Skillern. “His experience and skill will undoubtedly strengthen our team. This signing also represents a significant step forward in solidifying our partnership with Odisha and India, a region with a rich Hockey tradition.”
The 25-year-old hails from Kalijapathar village in Sundargarh district, India. Before embarking on his Hockey career, Lakra trained for a year to become a priest. However, his passion for hockey ultimately led him to the SAIL Hockey Academy in August 2015.
The SAIL Hockey Academy, established in 1992 in Rourkela, India’s “hockey heartland,” has been instrumental in nurturing Lakra’s talent. The Academy boasts 2 modern synthetic turfs and is home to 200 emerging players from the Sundargarh district.
HC Melbourne looks forward to Lakra’s contributions on the field and is confident he will be a valuable asset to the team.
HC Melbourne’s season opener will kick off on Friday, 11 October where HC Melbourne take on the Adelaide Fire in Adelaide.
HC Melbourne will be back at home after our bye in Round 2 on Saturday, 26 October. Our Men and Women take on Perth Thundersticks live from State Netball Hockey Centre in Parkville.
HC Melbourne have 3 home games this year:
Round 3 – Saturday, 26 October vs Perth Thundersticks
Round 4 – Friday, 1 November vs NSW Pride
Round 7 – Friday, 22 November vs Tasmania Tigers
Memberships are now on sale, get yours here: https://www.intix.com.au/artist/hockey-club-melbourne
HC Melbourne are proudly sponsored by Equity-One, DEOL, UNCLOUD, Polytan and PRL.
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