Two-time Olympic medallist Gurjant retires from international hockey
India’s two-time Olympic medallist Gurjant Singh on Friday retired from international hockey, saying it was the right time to step away after losing his place in the national team due to a back injury last year.
Gurjant represented India in 130 senior-level matches and was part of the side that won gold at the 2023 Asian Games in China.
The 31-year-old forward from Khailara village in Amritsar was also a member of the Indian team that won back-to-back bronze medals at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.
He announced his retirement during the eighth Hockey India Annual Awards ceremony on Friday.
“Since June Pro League last year I was forced to sit out of the senior team due to a back injury. I was out of hockey for nearly 7-8 months,” Gurjant told PTI.
“After that, I played Hockey India League and domestic hockey but never could return back into the side. So I felt it is the appropriate time to quit and give the juniors a chance.”
He, however, will continue to play in the Hockey India League, domestic competitions and explore club opportunities abroad.
“I will continue to play in the HIL, domestic hockey and also looking for club hockey opportunities abroad,” said Gurjant, who is employed with the Sports Department in the Punjab government.
During his nearly 10-year career, Gurjant scored 33 goals since making his senior debut in 2017.
He rose quickly through the junior ranks, catching the selectors’ attention with his pace and sharp instincts. He played a key role in India’s title-winning campaign at the 2016 Junior FIH World Cup in Lucknow, scoring in the final.
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Gurjant was also part of India’s gold medal-winning sides at the 2023 Asian Games and 2017 Asia Cup, in addition to multiple Asian Champions Trophy titles.
He was conferred the Arjuna Award in 2021.
Gurjant also holds the record for the fastest goal by an Indian in international hockey, scoring just 13 seconds into the game against the Netherlands in his FIH Pro League debut in January 2020 in Bhubaneswar, as India registered a 5-2 win.
Gurjant said he has no regrets about his career. “I started my hockey journey by looking up to the seniors sitting in this room, and to have fulfilled my dream of playing for India alongside them is something I will always treasure,” he said.
Gurjant was felicitated by Hockey India during the awards ceremony with a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh.
“I feel incredibly satisfied to have been part of the revival of Indian hockey and to have achieved two Olympic medals. I leave the international stage a very happy and proud man,” he said.
Published on Mar 27, 2026