Indian women's hockey defender Sunita Lakra, announced her retirement from international hockey following an ongoing knee injury, halting her dreams of making this year's Olympic Games.

In a statement issued by Hockey India, she said, "today is a very emotional day for me as I have decided to retire from International Hockey." 

Having made the hockey team at the 2016 Rio Olympics in what was India's first appearance in over three decades, Lakra expressed her misfortune in not being able to create more history in Tokyo.

"As much as I wish to be part of the Indian team as they prepare for the Tokyo Olympics, my knee injuries have cut short my dream," she said.

"I have been told by the doctors that I would be requiring another knee surgery in the coming days and I am unsure how long it would take before I fully recover," she added.

Lakra first made the team in 2008 and since then, has played 139 matches for India and was part of the side that claimed the 2014 Asian Games Bronze medal.

More recently, the 28-year-old captained the Indian women's hockey team that took silver at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy tournament in Donghae City, Korea.

Lakra vows to continue playing domestic hockey after recovering from surgery.