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Personal Information
| Full Name | Shanglakpam Nilakanta Sharma |
| Date of Birth | May 2, 1995 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Role | Midfielder |
Nilakanta Sharma News
Nilakanta Sharma: A Brief Biography
Nilakanta Sharma is an Indian hockey player who plays as the midfielder for the Indian men’s hockey team. He was born on 2 May 1995 in Imphal East district. He is a son of priest and despite of not being of hockey background he chose to rise as a hockey player.
Background
Nilakanta developed interest in hockey in the place of Manipur where football is always in top. In his early days he joined Posterior Hockey Academy Manipur along with his friends Kothajit and Chingelsana. He played as a midfielder and is very good for “Y dodge” to the opposite defenders.
Debut
He started his career in national team from 2014 Sultan of Johor Cup junior team of India. They had best ending of tournament. Winning the title against Great Britain was Nilakanta's first international cup.
Rise to Glory
He made is senior national team debut in July of 2017, against of Belgium during India’s Europe tour and he also represented India A which participated in Australia Hockey League, later, in the year.
Low points
Nilakanta was named as a stand by for the 2017 Hockey World League final in Bhubaneswar and then, the Champions Trophy in Netherlands and also the 2018 Asian Games.
Before 2017 he played under the instructions of coach Roelmant Oltmans with Oltmans technique and after the 2017, Sjoerd (Marijine) a new coach with his new technique came and it was difficult for Nilakanta to play in new style.
Club career
Sharma started hockey from 2003 for Posterior Hockey Academy Manipur until 2011. At the age of 16, he left home to play for under 17 tournament and got enrolled at a hockey academy.
In 2014, he played for Western Railways in the Super Division League. After world cup win, he played for Hockey India Franchise Dabbang Mumbai in the following season.
Form
After winning second position in 92nd MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup, he is now focused to book a berth in the national team for the upcoming World Cup in November 28.
