Deepika Thakur (born 7 February 1987) is an Indian field hockey player and is currently the most senior and highest capped player of Indian women's Team. She plays as a Defender in the senior team and has represented India over 200 outings and has scored 24 goals.[1]

Deepika Thakur
Personal information
Born (1987-02-07) 7 February 1987 (age 37)
Yamunanagar, Haryana, India
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight 56 kg (123 lb)
Playing position Defender
National team
Years Team Apps (Gls)
India 226
Medal record
Women's field hockey
Representing  India
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2018 Jakarta Team
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Incheon Team
Asia Cup
Silver medal – second place 2009 Bangkok
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Kuala Lumpur
Asian Champions Trophy
Gold medal – first place 2016 Singapore
Silver medal – second place 2013 Kakamigahara
Silver medal – second place 2018 Donghae
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Busan
South Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2016 Guwahati Team
Junior Asia Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Hyderabad

Career edit

She hails from Haryana and is a product of Sports Hostel, Chandigarh. She works for Indian Railways.[2] She has represented India in World Cup 2006 and 2010, Asian Games in 2010, 2014 and 2018 and Commonwealth Games in 2010 and 2014.

Deepika joined the Indian National Women's hockey team much against the wishes of her parents who wanted her to marry early. She postponed her marriage that was scheduled to happen in October 2016 in order to play for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Indian women's team qualified for the Rio Olympics 2016 after the gap of 36 years.[3] Deepika was the vice-captain of that squad. Though India finished bottom of the group.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

In the Asian Champions Trophy (2016) held in Malaysia, Indian women's won their maiden title in which Deepika played an important role. She also got the ‘highest scorer of the tournament’ award.[10][11]

India won gold medal at the South Asian Games, 2016. Deepika was part of the squad and scored one of the goals in the final match against Sri Lanka.[12][13]

Achievements edit

  • 250 Match caps Milestone
  • Asian Games 2018 (Jakarta- Indonesia) – Silver Medal
  • 5th Asian Champian Trophy, Korea (2018) – Silver Medal
  • Women Hockey World League Semifinal ( Vencouver- Canada) 2017 - Winner
  • 4th Asian Champion Trophy (Singapore) (2016) – Gold Medal
  • 12th SAF games (Guwahati – India) 2016 – Gold Medal
  • FIH World League Round 2 (Delhi- India) 2015 - Winner
  • Test match series India V/s Spain (Valencia- Spain) 2015 - Winner
  • Test Series (Rome-Italy) 2014 - Winner
  • 17th Asian games (Incheon-Korea) 2014 – Bronze Medal
  • 8th Women Asia Cup (Malaysia) 2013 – Bronze Medal
  • 3rd Asian Championship (Gifu-Japan) 2013 – Silver Medal
  • FIH Olympic Qualifying Tournament (New Delhi-India) 2012- Silver Medal
  • Test Match Series India v/s Azerbaizan (New Delhi -India) 2012- Winner
  • Test Match Series (Australia) 2011 – 2nd Place
  • 1st Asian Champion Trophy (Busan-Korea) 2010 – Bronze Medal
  • 4 Nations Tournament (Germany)2010 – Bronze Medal
  • 7th Asia Cup (Bangkok- Thailand) 2009 – Silver Medal
  • Champion Challenge II (Kazan-Russia) 2009 - Gold Medal

Awards and honours edit

  • Member of selection Committee Khelo India 2021
  • High Performance manager (Hockey) From Sports Authority of India
  • Arjuna Award 2020 (Hockey)
  • Dhruv Batra Player of the Year, Women (2015) in Hockey.[14]
  • Hockey India Defender of the year 2014
  • GM Railways Award 2008

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Deepika Thakur: 10 things to know about India's talented hockey defender". Sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Deepika Thakur Profile". Hockey India. Archived from the original on 6 November 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  3. ^ "Indian women hockey team qualifies for Olympics after 36 years". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  4. ^ [1][dead link]
  5. ^ "DEEPIKA THAKUR (29)". Sportstarlive. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  6. ^ "India's women's hockey team gears up for USA Tour before Rio Olympics". Espn.in. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  7. ^ "Rio 2016 Olympics a chance at liberation for Indian women's hockey team". The Indian Express. 31 July 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Rio 2016 Olympics: Great Britain outclass India 3–0 in women's hockey". The Indian Express. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Haryana sportswomen shelve marriage plans for Rio Olympics | othersports". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Whenever I've felt low, something good has happened: Deepika Thakur".
  11. ^ Kumar, Nandini (30 March 2016). "Woman On! Outback to Olympics". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Indian women's Hockey team clinches gold".
  13. ^ Suhrid Barua (9 June 2015). "Interview with Deepika Thakur: "Want to finish in top-3 in Hockey World League"". In.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  14. ^ "Hockey India | P.R Sreejesh and Deepika win the Hockey India Player of the Year". Retrieved 28 July 2018.

External links edit