THAKUR Deepika < Back  
Sport Hockey
CGA India   
Gender Women
Born 07 Feb 1987 in Yamunanagar, IND
Height1.59 m
Weight 62 kg
Human Interest
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team Indian Railways: India
Preferred position / style / stance / technique Defender
Further Personal Information
Residence New Delhi, IND
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievement Qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (sportskeeda.com, 17 Mar 2016)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? She was introduced to the sport by her cousin.
General Interest
Most influential person in career Her father. (Athlete, 14 Sep 2014)
Hero / Idol Germany hockey player Moritz Furste. (Athlete, 14 Sep 2014)
Ambitions To compete at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (shethepeople.tv, 31 Mar 2016)
Awards and honours She was named as Hockey India's Player of the Year for 2015, and Defender of the Year for 2014. (thefansofhockey.com, 28 Mar 2015; shethepeople.tv, 31 Mar 2016)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach Neil Hawgood [national], AUS
When and where did you begin this sport? She began playing hockey in 2000 in Yamura Nagar, India.
International Debut
Year 2006
Competing for India
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete, Railway Worker
Languages English, Hindi
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto "Having played in so many major tournaments does help you to deal better with certain situations during a game. I always look to help my teammates whenever needed, both on the pitch and off the pitch. It gives me satisfaction when the team benefits from my experience." (sportskeeda.com, 09 Jun 2015)
Other information CAPTAIN
She captained India for the first time at the 2016 Hawke's Bay Cup in New Zealand. (msn.com, 17 Mar 2016)

WOMEN'S VERSION
She believes a women's version of the Hockey India League [HIL] would help improve India's international team by increasing the number of areas that produce players. "At the moment there are not too many girls playing hockey, save for a few select pockets. If you take a close look, it's Haryana, Punjab, Railways, Odisha, Jharkhand and MP [Madhya Pradesh]. Players do emerge from other areas, but not in great numbers. A women's HIL could help widen the player net and provide a proper supply line to the national team." (sportskeeda.com, 09 Jun 2015)
Further Personal Information
Higher education DAV College: Chandigarh, IND