It was a pivotal moment for India in many ways. Trailing by two goals against United States in their opening FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup match in June, India were looking bereft of ideas against a sturdy USA defence.
Fast forward to the Asian Games where the Indian woman won their first gold medal in 44 years. Deepika scored a tournament-high 21 goals, the nine against Thailand the most scored by one player in a women’s match at the Asiad. She scored four more times in that tournament, finishing joint-top scorer as India won the title.
However, against USA, she stepped up and slotted the ball powerfully to the bottom right corner. A few minutes later, another drag-flick, and she had levelled the scores. India upstaged China in the final.
It was a trophy that halted the team’s downward spiral that prevented it from qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics and led to relegation from the FIH Pro League. By March, Deepika was still not close to being match-fit, but the 22-year-old still travelled with the team for the World Cup qualifiers in Hyderabad. Because they created the penalty corners and I finished it, “The team had played a big role in it,.
“It’s a big deal, because records don’t get created out of nothing,” she told HT. “I told her that my record for 100 burpees is around six minutes, and asked her what will be her record,” Marijne told HT. “You see a player go through that disappointment and not having trust in her body, you don’t want her to go through that process,” Marijne said.
Now, the upswing coincided with Deepika’s return. “It was a challenge. It was in good fun, but there were more goals behind it. “In those moments, you act less as a hockey coach and more as a mental guide or father-figure providing support.
