Indian women’s hockey stalwart Vandana Katariya expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after receiving a personal letter of appreciation on the occasion of her retirement from international hockey. In a social media post, Vandana said it was a proud moment for her to receive such recognition from the Prime Minister. She added that this affection and encouragement would always serve as a source of inspiration.

On April 1, the 32-year-old forward officially announced her retirement from international hockey, bringing to a close a remarkable career that began in 2009. Vandana retires as India’s most-capped women’s hockey player, with 320 international appearances and 158 goals-leaving behind a legacy unmatched in the country’s hockey history.