Retired India forward Vandana Katariya ‘available’ to make international hockey return

Former India forward Vandana Katariya, who had announced her retirement from international hockey on April 1, 2025, has now expressed eagerness to make a comeback to the national team.

“If I am called up, yes (I will be available). Actually, I am match-fit, as was seen during the Hockey India League (HIL). If the Indian team needs me as a player, I am ready,” she told Sportstar after her side, Shrachi Bengal Tigers, finished runner-up at the HIL on Saturday.

Vandana, who had made her senior team debut in 2009, had left the sport last year as the most capped player in the history of Indian women’s hockey. She has 320 international appearances and 158 goals under her belt.

“I had taken the call of retiring after being frustrated with certain things not happening in my favour. At times, a player is pushed into doing stuff. I was mentally disturbed,” said Vandana, an Asian Games silver medallist.

But as she healed with time, Vandana seems to have figured she may not be done donning the blues after all. She said, “But later, without giving it much thought, I decided to keep practising to stay in shape. I followed the same schedule as I used to as a part of the national camps. From discipline to diet, I have maintained everything. So, I am ready to contribute in whatever way possible, if asked.”

With the World Cup qualifiers round the corner, followed by the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games later in the year, it will be interesting to see whether Vandana’s availability forces newly appointed coach Sjoerd Marijne to take another look at the current India team.

“I want to do my best to help the team qualify for the Asian Games and then the Olympics. The younger players need to step up like they did in this league. I want to see the team succeed because there are certain targets you set in your head. And until you realise your dreams completely, I don’t think the hunger ever goes,” Vandana said.

The 33-year-old from Haridwar had been an integral part of the Tokyo Olympics squad that secured a historic fourth-place finish. At the said edition, she had become the only Indian woman ever to score a hat-trick in the Summer Games during a match against South Africa.

Vandana played her last match for India in February 2025 during the Bhubaneswar leg of the FIH Pro League.

Published on Jan 11, 2026