‘Prince’ Yuvraj engaged with MLA Thakre’s daughter Veeha

 MARRIAGE ON VALENTINE’S DAY IN NAGPUR

August 20, 2025

By Paritosh Pramanik

HE HAS beaten many a robust defence, earning accolades in world hockey. But striker Yuvraj Walmiki could not dribble past this Nagpur girl and was forced to concede a ‘goal’.

Yuvraj, once the ‘Prince of Indian hockey’ got hooked to Veeha, daughter of West Nagpur MLA Vikas Thakre, and within a span of a few months the two exchanged rings at a simple engagement ceremony held on Saturday in Nagpur. The marriage will take place on February 14, Valentine’s Day in Nagpur.

Yuvraj, the Indian team’s striker with over 50 international caps, was taught to take first strike at the opponent’s citadel. He did it in personal life, too! “It was love at first sight,” Yuvraj told ‘The Hitavada’ after the ring ceremony which took place on Saturday in the city.

“I met Veeha, who is studying LLM in Criminal Law, on Instagram and started chatting with her. It struck immediately. I never believed in spending time in coffee shops and roaming around. We were serious from the start itself,” said Yuvraj about his first meeting. “I stalked her insta posts and liked her at first shot,” revealed Yuvraj, the only Indian player to have played German Hockey League for eight years continuously. Yuvraj, himself a sportstar, didn’t know that he was dating the daughter of a top politician until Veeha said that she can’t meet him alone due to ‘security reasons’.

“We used to chat a lot but I never knew that she was the daughter of such a big political leader of the State. Once, when I asked her to meet, she said that she can’t due to security reasons. I was like, what? Security reasons? Then she said that she is the daughter of MLA Thakre,” stated Yuvraj, who represented Indian at the 2014 Hockey World Cup in Netherlands.

“That was surprisingly shocking for me,” added Yuvraj.

Yuvraj then met MLA Thakre on a few occasions during Maharashtra Assembly’s Monsoon Session in Mumbai. 

“I was invited by Mr Thakre a few months back and I flew down to Nagpur to meet him. I was in awe looking at the security with which dad (MLA Thakre) came to receive me at the airport. The reception at their house was homely and I felt a sense of pride on my decision,” said Yuvraj, who was part of the Indian team that won the 2011 Asian Champions Trophy in Ordos.

The ring ceremony was a private affair with Yuvraj’s family members including his brother international hockey player Davinder and his mentor legendary Dhanraj Pillay in attendance.

There was no opposition from both sides and Thakre family accepted ‘the prince’ for their ‘princesses’.

“Dad (Thakre) told me if both of us are happy in each other’s company then they have no problem. The Thakre family is very down-to-earth and they are sure that their daughter will live a life of princesses in Walmiki family,” Yuvraj signed off.