Haryana's Deepika powers India to win, securing hockey championship

Haryana (The Uttam Hindu): In a stunning display of composure under pressure, 20-year-old Deepika netted the decisive goal to lead India to a 1-0 victory over China, retaining their title at the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy in Rajgir, Bihar. The goal came in the 31st minute of a tightly contested final after a botched penalty corner, with Deepika calmly converting a low tomahawk strike into the far corner.

For Deepika, this triumph marked a remarkable comeback after a challenging year. In January, India’s Olympic dreams were dashed when they narrowly lost to Germany and Japan in the Paris Olympic qualifiers. Deepika, who had been burdened with penalty corner duties during the Ranchi tournament, had struggled and scored just two goals. However, in less than a year, the Haryana striker made an impressive recovery, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with 11 goals.

The victory in the Asian Champions Trophy was a much-needed boost for India, especially after a tough rebuilding phase. The team won all seven of its matches, conceding only two goals and scoring 29. Although China, the Paris Olympics silver medalists, fielded a less experienced squad, India’s performance is seen as a positive sign for the future. This victory also provided a perfect launch for the team’s journey under new coach Harendra Singh, who emphasized the importance of this tournament as the starting point for India’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.