Indian women’s hockey stalwart, Vandana Katariya, has officially announced her retirement from international hockey, bringing an end to an illustrious career spanning over 15 years.

With 320 international appearances and 158 goals to her name, Vandana departs as the most-capped player in the history of Indian women’s hockey. The 32-year-old, who made her senior team debut in 2009, was an integral part of several defining moments in the sport, including India’s historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she became the first and only Indian woman to score a hat-trick at the Games.

For her immense contributions, Vandana was honoured with some of India’s most prestigious awards, including the Arjuna Award (2021) and the Padma Shri (2022). She also received the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year (Women) in 2014, the Hockey India President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2021, and the Hockey India Dhanraj Pillay Award for Forward of the Year in 2021 and 2022, cementing her status as one of India’s finest forwards.