India’s junior women’s hockey team is making the most of the ongoing Khelo India Women’s Hockey League Under-21 at the Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi as a much-needed warm-up ahead of the upcoming Junior Women’s Hockey World Cup. Is. year in South Africa. The World Cup was scheduled to be held this December but had to be postponed due to the massive spread of the Omicron version of COVID-19.
One of the team’s star performers in the tournament, 18-year-old Deepika from Haryana has been a regular name in the scoresheets of every match of India Juniors. He has eight goals after a total of three matches in the competition.
His hockey journey started in 2011 and it took genuine passion, dedication and love to get into the game.
“I started playing the sport when I was probably 7 or 8 years old. There was a lot of support from my coach as well as my family. When I started, I used to go to the arena for wrestling training with my brother. On the way, I saw a hockey field and immediately fell in love with the game. I told my parents then that I don’t want to play any sport other than hockey.”
“My family consists mostly of wrestlers, my uncles, my brothers, they are all wrestlers and they wanted me to be in that sport too. But, I was determined to play hockey. I want to prove that if you are from Haryana then it is not necessary to be in wrestling but can take part in other sports as well,” Deepika continues in her voice with a sense of passion.
Dipika is not only the league’s top scorer so far, but has also scored four goals from penalty corners – the most among all players. Talking about the preparations for the Junior Hockey World Cup, he mentioned, “We are getting all possible support from the staff ahead of the World Cup. Our coach Erik Woinink sir is working especially hard to fully prepare us for next year’s postponed Hockey World Cup.”
“We have been training together at the SAI National Center of Excellence in Bengaluru since 2019 and we are provided with diet and every requirement. Hockey India also helps us in every possible way. They provide everything we need and I am thankful to both SAI and Hockey India for doing so much in our journey.
Deepika idolizes Indian cricket team sensation Virat Kohli and mentions that it is his never-ending spirit that inspires him.
“I consider them ideals who do not hold back in life. Virat Kohli has seen a lot of ups and downs in his career as well as struggles and he is now at a big stage of his life.
Looking ahead, Deepika mentioned that the Olympic journey has just begun for her. “This tournament is just the beginning and there is a long road ahead and many dreams to fulfill for me. My focus is on the Olympics and I would be very happy if not only me, every player on the team that plays today gets a chance to compete in the Olympics. We have been playing together for 3-4 years and the bonding between us is very good. We keep encouraging all our teammates during the match.”
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