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.
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. 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.
Because they created the penalty corners and I finished it, “The team had played a big role in it,. Now, the upswing coincided with Deepika’s return. India upstaged China in the final. Deepika wasn’t even sure she would play again after the injury. “When the injury happened, the doctors were not sure if I needed to get surgery. There was a lot going on. “In those moments, you act less as a hockey coach and more as a mental guide or father-figure providing support. The team will soon do the post-Asiad analysis, but Deepika the areas she must improve.
“It’s a big deal, because records don’t get created out of nothing,” she 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. “I need to bring more variations into the drag-flick,” she said.
