Asian Games 2026: Deepika Sehrawat has emerged as one of the biggest talking points of India’s campaign in the women’s hockey competition. The forward and drag-flick specialist produced a record-breaking performance against Thailand on Wednesday, scoring nine goals as India registered a massive 20-1 victory.
The 22-year-old from Hisar, Haryana, has now become a key figure in India’s attacking unit. Her journey to the top, however, did not begin with hockey.
Born on December 6, 2003, Deepika came from a family with a strong wrestling background, with her father initially hoping that she would follow the family tradition.
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From Wrestling Ground To Hockey Field
Deepika regularly accompanied her father and elder brother to the Sports Authority of India wrestling facility in Hisar. However, at the age of eight, she became fascinated by the hockey players training on the neighbouring field.
The sight of girls passing the ball and communicating with each other left a lasting impression on her. She eventually told her father that if she was going to play a sport, it would be hockey.
Her persistence eventually paid off. At the age of 11, she began training under coach Azad Singh Malik.
Interestingly, her early wrestling training became an advantage in hockey. The physical conditioning helped her develop a strong upper body and core, qualities that later proved valuable as a forward and penalty-corner specialist.
Learning The Art Of Drag-Flicking
Deepika went on to specialise in drag-flicking and trained under some of the leading names in the field. She attended specialised camps with former Indian drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh and Dutch specialist Taeke Taekema.
Her ability from penalty corners has since become one of her biggest weapons.
In 2025, Deepika became the first Indian to win the Poligras Magic Skill Award for her spectacular solo goal against the Netherlands.
Major Injury And Remarkable Comeback
Soon after her breakthrough moment, Deepika suffered a severe Grade III hamstring tear, putting her career on a difficult path. After a lengthy rehabilitation process, she returned to competitive hockey and made an immediate impact.
Her comeback reached another high point at the FIH Women's Nations Cup 2026 in June, where she finished among the tournament's leading goalscorers as India won the gold medal.
Deepika Sehrawat's Asian Games 2026 Record
Deepika entered the Thailand match in outstanding form after scoring 11 goals in India's opening two games. She then produced one of the most remarkable individual performances of the tournament.
Against Thailand, she scored in the 2nd, 8th, 9th, 24th, 33rd, 36th, 39th, 51st and 57th minutes. All nine goals came from penalty corners.
Her performance helped India secure their third consecutive Pool B victory after earlier wins over Uzbekistan and Indonesia.
Deepika Sehrawat: Major Achievements
Deepika has already collected several major medals during her international career:
2022 Asian Games, Hangzhou: Bronze
2022 Asia Cup, Muscat: Bronze
2023 Women's Asian Champions Trophy, Ranchi: Gold
2024 Women's Asian Champions Trophy, Rajgir: Gold
2025 Asia Cup: Silver
2026 FIH Women's Nations Cup: Gold
With inputs from SAI.