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“Hockey or nothing.” For Deepika, the decision was swift. After all, she was just an eight-year-old child.
It didn’t matter that she didn’t know the name of the sport or its basics. Watching a group of girls training at a hockey stadium on her way to the wrestling arena at the SAI Centre in Hisar was enough. She had made up her mind.
“When the girls were passing the ball to each other, I didn’t even know it was called passing. They were encouraging one another, saying, ‘Come on!’ I liked that,” the 21-year-old told Sportstar . When she returned home, she told her father, “ Mujhe khelni hai toh hockey hi khelni hai, nahin toh koi aur sport mein jaana hi nahin hai (If I am to play a sport, it will be hockey; otherwise, I won’t play anything).
” LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE ON SPORTSTAR PODCAST Deepika’s father, grandfather, and cousins had all participated in wrestling and kabaddi at some point. Sending her with her brother for wrestling practice was a natural step in continuing the family tradition. But for now, her father decided the wrestling mat could wait.
He approached coach Azad Singh Malik and asked if his daughter could play hockey at the same ground where she had first witnessed the game. Given her small stature and young age, Malik initially refused to train her. However, after her father’s persistent requests, he allowed her to sit on a wooden bench and observe the sessions.
For three days, Deepika watched the other girls play before Malik finally asked, “ Hockey khelni hai ? (Do you want to play hockey?)” ALSO READ | What happened last time Barcelona played Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League? That girl from Haryana, who first picked up a hockey stick 13 years ago, is now one of India’s most promising forwards. “My family and neighbours thought I was just playing hockey for fun and that I would eventually return to wrestling,” said Deepika, who has since scored 27 goals in 56 matches for the national team. However, she was serious about the sport.
Two years later, Malik told her that with focus and hard work, she could become an exceptional player. It didn’t take long for her to prove him right. At the Sub-Junior Nationals in Hisar in 2018, she netted 18 goals, leading Haryana to the title and earning the ‘Best Player of the Tournament’ award.
Soon after, she was called up to the junior national camp. During the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) in January, she received invaluable tips from Dutch star Yibbi Jansen, currently the best drag-flicker in women’s hockey. | Photo Credit: R.
V. Moorthy Tough initiation When captain and ace forward Rani Rampal was sidelined with a hamstring injury following India’s historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, newly appointed coach Janneke Schopman introduced Deepika to the senior squad during the FIH Pro League 2021-22 season. The youngster, however, failed to score in her six appearances and was omitted from the Commonwealth Games squad that went on to win bronze in Birmingham in 2022.
A year later, during India’s victorious Junior Asia Cup campaign in Oman, Deepika amassed seven goals in six matches, four of them from penalty corners (PCs). This performance earned her a spot in the squad for the Asian Games in Hangzhou. In India’s tournament opener, she finally opened her international account, scoring a PC against Singapore.
“Coach Malik first introduced me to drag-flicking. He told me that, coming from a family of wrestlers, I already had the power. But he also warned me about the higher risk of injury,” she said.
Once in the senior camp, Rupinder Pal Singh, one of India’s finest drag-flickers and a bronze medallist at Tokyo 2020, taught her the nuances of the skill. Deepika learned a tough lesson at the FIH Olympic Qualifiers 2024 in Ranchi. On the eve of the tournament, Schopman noted that opposition coaches viewed Deepika’s drag-flick as a serious threat.
However, she managed to convert just one PC in five games as India finished fourth, failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics. “That experience taught me the importance of staying calm as a drag-flicker. Not every attempt results in a goal, but at the same time, not every shot is a miss,” she reflected.
ALSO READ | AC Milan defender Kyle Walker undergoes surgery after fracturing elbow; return date unclear Learning from the best During the inaugural Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) in January, she received invaluable tips from Dutch star Yibbi Jansen, currently the best drag-flicker in women’s hockey. Deepika ended 2024 as the third-highest female goalscorer worldwide with 17 goals. Recognising her consistent performances, Hockey India recently honoured her with the Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images “She told me how she adjusts her speed and positions her feet. She also suggested watching videos of opposition rushers for better preparation,” Deepika said. Her drag-flicking prowess took centre stage during India’s successful defence of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir last year, where she finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 11 goals, six from PCs.
Her performances drew praise from Indian men’s captain Harmanpreet Singh, who posted on X (formerly Twitter): “A special shoutout to Deepika – from one drag-flicker to another, you’re destined for greatness!” Deepika ended 2024 as the third-highest female goalscorer worldwide with 17 goals. Recognising her consistent performances, Hockey India recently honoured her with the Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Women’s Under-21), while goalkeeper Savita Punia won the Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year for the third time.
A photograph of a young Deepika garlanding Savita at a felicitation function years ago resurfaced on social media soon after the awards ceremony. “That day, she had just returned from an international tournament, and a function was held for her at the SAI Centre. We all welcomed her with garlands.
The coach told us about her journey, even though her career had only just begun. It was an emotional moment, and I wanted to experience the same,” Deepika recalled. She finally had her moment when she returned to the same ground in Hisar after the Women’s HIL – the first of many such instances to come.
A special goal Soon after the HIL, Deepika returned to international duty for India’s FIH Pro League 2024-25 campaign in February. India stunned reigning World and Olympic champions the Netherlands in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in Bhubaneswar. Despite trailing 0-2 at half-time, India’s more aggressive style under new coach Harendra Singh, who replaced Schopman, turned the match around.
Five minutes into the second half, Deepika scored a sensational solo goal, a moment that quickly went viral, garnering over 31,700 views on X. Receiving a pass from Sunelita Toppo just after being subbed in, Deepika surged down the left flank. Within 10 seconds, she entered the shooting circle, deftly lifted the ball over a defender’s stick, and scooped it past the onrushing Dutch goalkeeper Josine Koning into the top-right corner.
In that electrifying sequence, Deepika displayed her fitness, game awareness, and decision-making. With the second leg of the Pro League (June 14-29 in Europe) and the Asia Cup (dates and venue to be announced) approaching, where World Cup qualification spots will be at stake, Deepika’s form bodes well for Indian women’s hockey. Comments Related Topics Asian Champions Trophy / Asia Cup / FIH Pro League Latest on Sportstar.
