V. R. Raghunath

V. R. Raghunath
Personal information
Full name Vokkaliga Ramachandra Raghunath
Born (1988-11-01) 1 November 1988 (age 35)
Hathur, Kodagu, Karnataka, India
Height 177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Fullback
Senior career
Years Team
–present IOCL
2013–present Uttar Pradesh Wizards
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2017 India 228 (132)
Medal record
Men's Field Hockey
Representing  India
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2014 Incheon Team
Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place 2007 Chennai Team
Silver medal – second place 2013 Ipoh Team
Asian Champions Trophy
Gold medal – first place 2011 Ordos City
Silver medal – second place 2012 Doha Team
Champions Trophy
Silver medal – second place 2016 London Team
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2014 Glasgow Team
Hockey World League
Bronze medal – third place 2014–15 Raipur Team

Vokkaliga Ramachandra Raghunath (born 1 November 1988)[1] is a former Indian professional field hockey player.[2] He played as a fullback and was known for his abilities as a drag flicker.[3]

Early life

Raghunath was born on 1 November 1988 to a former Indian field hockey player V. S. Ramachandra[4] and Doddamane Bojamma along with his two sisters, Niveditha Sanketh and Kavana Yatheesh.

Career

Raghunath made his debut for India in the sub-junior side in the 2003 sub-junior Asia Cup in Dhaka that India won. He made his senior debut in the national side during the bi-lateral series in 2005 against Pakistan, as a replacement to an injured Sandeep Singh.[5] He was a part of the Indian team that won bronze in the 2007 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, silver in 2008, gold in the 2007 Asia Cup and silver in 2013. Having scored six goals in the 2013 Asia Cup, Raghunath was awarded the 'Best Player of the Tournament'.[6]

Hockey India League

In the auction of the inaugural Hockey India League, Raghunath was bought by the Uttar Pradesh franchise for US$76,000[7] with his base price being US$13,900. The team was named Uttar Pradesh Wizards. He captained the team to a third-place finish in the inaugural season.[8] He ended the first season having scored 9 goals in 14 games and the second season scoring 8 goals in 12 games.

References

  1. ^ "Know Your Indian Olympian: 10 things to know about V.R. Raghunath". in.news.yahoo.com. 8 July 2016.
  2. ^ "Don't have plans of making comeback, no regrets about leaving Indian team: VR Raghunath". scroll.in. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  3. ^ "Drag-flicker Raghunath confident of India return". Deccan Herald. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Hockey: Drag-flicker Raghunath's Olympic dream is reborn". Oneindia. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  5. ^ "VR Raghunath: An ambitious trier and an eternal learner". Stick2hockey. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  6. ^ "S. Korea wins record fourth Asia Cup title". Asia Hockey. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Sardar Singh, VR Raghunath stars of HIL auctions". The Times of India. 16 December 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Brilliant Raghunath single-handedly claims 3rd spot for Uttar Pradesh Wizards". The Times of India. 10 February 2013. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.