Abhishek Nain

{{Infobox field hockey player

| name = Abhishek Nain

| image = Abhishek Nain in January 2025.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Nain in January 2025

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|8|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Sonipat, Haryana, India

| height = 176 cm

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| clubs1 = Rarh Bengal Tigers

| years1 = 2024–

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| nationalteam1 = India U21

| nationalyears1 = 2017–2018

| nationalcaps1 = 12

| nationalgoals1 = 6

| nationalteam2 = India

| nationalyears2 = 2022–

| nationalcaps2 = 98

| nationalgoals2 = 39

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalSport|Men's field hockey}} 30px

{{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}

}}

Abhishek Nain (born 15 August 1999) is an Indian field hockey player who plays as a forward.{{Cite web |last=Sudarshan |first=N. |date=2023-05-27 |title=Abhishek Nain: The 'ziddi' star of Indian hockey |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/magazine/abhishek-nain-profile-stats-bio-indian-hockey-team/article66900299.ece |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Sportstar |language=en}} He is a part of the national team since 2022.{{Cite web |last=Sportstar |first=Team |date=2024-07-15 |title=Paris 2024: It has been my dream to play for India in the Olympics, says Abhishek |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/paris-2024-india-hockey-forward-abhishek-olympics-debut-dream-come-true-mental-conditioning-camp/article68406138.ece/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=sportstar.thehindu.com |language=en}} Nain plays for Rarh Bengal Tigers in the Hockey India League.{{Cite web |title=Indian forward Abhishek Nain hails Hockey India League return, calls it "turning point" for sport in country |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/sports/hockey/indian-forward-abhishek-nain-hails-hockey-india-league-return-calls-it-turning-point-for-sport-in-country20241210132206/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=ANI News |language=en}}

Early life

Nain was born on 15 August 1999 in Sonipat to mother Soorat Devi and father Satnarayan Nain, who is a special police officer. He has an elder brother named Ashish.{{Cite web |title=Abhishek Nain's family elated |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/abhishek-nains-family-elated/amp |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=The Tribune |language=en}} Nain first started playing the sport of hockey when he was in third grade.{{Cite web |title=Hockey was escape route from studies but it shaped my career: Olympic bronze medal-winning forward Abhishek |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/abhishek-nain-hockey-was-escape-route-from-studies-but-it-shaped-my-career/cid/2066742 |website=Telegraph India}}

Career

Nain made his international debut for in Feb 2022 at the 2021–22 Pro League.{{cite news |title=Hockey: Abhishek off the mark for India and hungry for more |url=https://scroll.in/field/1017538/hockey-abhishek-off-the-mark-for-india-and-hungry-for-more |access-date=23 July 2022 |work=Scroll.in}}{{cite news |title=How a near-death accident and an unconventional coach, a Hindi teacher, shaped hockey forward Abhishek's career |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/hockey/how-a-near-death-accident-and-an-unconventional-coach-a-hindi-teacher-shaped-hockey-forward-abhisheks-career-8034126/ |access-date=23 July 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=17 July 2022 |language=en}} He was a part of the team that won the gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games.{{Cite web |title=Asian Games Results |url=https://info.hangzhou2022.cn/en/results/hockey/result-men-fnl-000200-.htm |access-date=6 October 2023 |website=2022 Asian Games, Hangzhou}} He was a part of the bronze medal winning team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.{{Cite news |date=2024-06-26 |title=Five Olympic debutants in Indian men's hockey squad for Paris 2024 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/paris-olympics-2024/five-olympic-debutants-in-indian-mens-hockey-squad-for-paris-2024/articleshow/111285205.cms |access-date=2024-07-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} Nain was also a part of the team that won the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy. He was the second most expensive player at Hockey India League auctions for the 2024–25 season.{{Cite web |last=Sportstar |first=Team |date=2024-10-13 |title=HIL 2024-25: Top five most expensive men's players from Hockey India League Auction |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/hil-auction-hockey-india-league-2024-2025-most-expensive-buys-harmanpreet-abhishek-hardik/article68748973.ece/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=sportstar.thehindu.com |language=en}} Rarh Bengal Tigers bought him for ₹72 lakhs.{{Cite web |last=Sportstar |first=Team |date=2024-10-13 |title=Hockey India League 2024 Auction: Abhishek goes to Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers for 72 lakhs |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/hockey/abhishek-shrachi-rarh-bengal-tigers-hockey-india-league-2024-auction-price-details-updates/article68748632.ece/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=sportstar.thehindu.com |language=en}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

!Year

!Award

!Category

!Result

!Ref.

2023

|Hockey India Awards

|Forward of the Year

|{{won}}

2024

|Indian Sports Honours

|Breakthrough Performance of the Year Male

|{{nom}}

rowspan=3|2025

|Arjuna Award

|Outstanding Performance in Sports

|{{won}}

|{{Cite news |title=Complete list of winners of Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award, Dronacharya Award: Bhaker, Gukesh and more |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/complete-list-of-winners-of-khel-ratna-arjuna-award-dronacharya-award-bhaker-gukesh-and-more/articleshow/116880972.cms |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

rowspan=2|Hockey India Awards

|Forward of the Year

|{{won}}

Player of the Year Male

|{{nom}}

References

External links

{{FIH|18697|Abhishek Nain}}
[https://www.hockeyindia.org/players/abhishek-profile-1898 Abhishek Nain] at Hockey India
{{Olympics.com|abhishek-abhishek|Abhishek Nain}}
[https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/abhishek-abhishek_1543026 Abhishek Nain] at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
{{2022 Commonwealth Games profile|26748|Abhishek Nain}}