New Delhi, Mar 30:
Over the last year, Indian women’s hockey team forward Deepika Kumari has emerged as one of the team’s potent weapons in attack.
The penalty corner specialist was the highestgoal scorer during the recently concluded 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship with 15 goals. Besides this, for her superlative performances, the 21-year-old has also been nominated for the prestigious Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of theY ear.
Expressing her excitement about being nominated for the award, Deepika said, “To be honest, I was not expecting to be nominated for this award. But I feel honoured that I have been. I am not thinkingabout if I will win the award or not, but just the excitement of beingnominated is like an adrenaline rush. When I started, I was not performing well, but having played in the Junior Asia Cup, and several tours with the senior women’s team, I kept improving my performance daily.”
She remarked, “My family is elated that I have been nominated for thisaward. For them, me being nominated means the world to them.”
HockeyHaryana beat Hockey Maharashtra 1-1 (3-0 penalty shootour) in the final to win the14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship at the MajorDhyanchand Hockey Stadium in Pimpri, Pune. Deepika (26′) scored the lone goal for Hockey Haryana in regulation time. Navneet Kaur, Usha and Sonika scored in the shootout and their captain Savita made three successive saves to take them to glory.
Talking about herexperience in the 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship, the forward said, “It has been a long time since I played in a domestic tournament. Last time I played in Senior National, it was in 2020. Playing in this tournament was special as a lot ofsenior players also took part. The level of hockey that was played wasfierce and intense. Playing against different players helps youunderstand where all you need to improve. There can never be an end tolearning in a game.”
Deepika also heaped praises on young talent Sanjana Horo, who finished the tournament with 11 goals and was the second highest goal scorer. She said, “At the young age of 17, shes cored 11 goals, it is simply outstanding. It’s really commendable. Given that all the senior players were there, but she emerged as the second -highest goal scorer, that just tells you the talent she has.”
