Birendra Lakra is an Indian field hockey player who has represented India at the international level. A defender by position, he hails from Odisha and has been associated with the Indian men's national team in major international tournaments.
| Full name | Birendra Lakra |
|---|---|
| Sport | Field hockey |
| Position | Defender |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Home state | Odisha |
| National team | India men's national field hockey team |
Lakra comes from Odisha, a state with a strong tradition of producing field hockey players for India, particularly from its tribal heartland in the Sundargarh region. Like several of his contemporaries from the area, he progressed through age-group hockey before being inducted into the senior Indian squad.
Lakra has featured for the senior Indian men's hockey team in international competition as a defender. He has been part of squads for tournaments organised under the auspices of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Asian Hockey Federation. At the domestic franchise level, he has played in Indian professional hockey leagues.
Operating primarily in the defensive third, Lakra is known for his role in marshalling the back line, executing tackles, and contributing to set-piece defending during penalty corners.
Lakra is among the players from Odisha who have continued the state's long association with Indian field hockey, alongside other internationals drawn from the same region. His selection to the national side reflects the pipeline of talent emerging from grassroots hockey programmes in eastern India.