Photo via Hindustan Times

Deepika Sehrawat: From injury to the pivot of India’s Asian Games triumph

Deepika Sehrawat’s return to India’s women’s hockey team marked a turning point for the squad after a period of struggles. After a severe hamstring injury in August 2022 sidelined her for nearly a year, Sehrawat made her comeback in June during the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup, scoring twice to help India defeat the United States in a critical match.

Her resilience continued as she became the standout performer at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where she netted 21 goals—including a record nine against Thailand in a single match—to lead India to their first gold medal in the sport in 44 years. The victory also reversed the team’s fortunes, ending a streak that saw them miss the 2024 Paris Olympics and drop out of the FIH Pro League.

Sehrawat’s physical and mental recovery, guided by coach Sjoerd Marijne, was pivotal, with her penalty-corner expertise and clutch scoring proving decisive in the tournament’s final stages. Her journey from injury to becoming the tournament’s top scorer underscored her role as the cornerstone of India’s resurgence under Marijne’s leadership.

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