Deepika Sehrawat Shines with Record Goals at Asian Games 2026
Impressive Performance by Deepika Sehrawat
Indian women's hockey player Deepika Sehrawat has attributed her remarkable goal-scoring streak at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 to her consistent drag-flicking technique and dedicated preparation. She emphasized that the team's focus is on maintaining their style of play as they gear up for more challenging matches.
Historic Goal Achievement
Sehrawat has already netted 20 goals across three matches for the Indian women's hockey team during the Asian Games 2026. Notably, she scored a record-breaking nine goals against Thailand, making her the first Indian woman to achieve such a feat in a single match at the Asian Games.
In their Pool B match at Kawasaki Juko Stadium, India dominated Thailand with a staggering 20-1 victory. Alongside Deepika's nine goals, Navneet Kaur contributed four goals, while Rutuja Dadaso Pisal added three. Other players, including Lalremsiami, Neha, Sakshi, and Salima Tete, also scored, marking India's third consecutive win in the tournament. Thailand's only goal was scored by Samanso Supansa in the 57th minute.
Deepika Reflects on Her Success
In a video shared by Hockey India on X, Deepika discussed her successful drag-flicking, crediting the coaching staff for their guidance before each match. She stated, "My drag-flicking is currently very smooth, and I feel relaxed. My focus is sharp. The coach helps us decide where to aim and how to overcome the first rushers, which simplifies things. We have tough matches ahead, and all our preparation is directed towards those games."
Looking Ahead to Future Matches
The Indian team is set to face the host nation, Japan, on Friday, followed by a match against Singapore on Sunday in their remaining Pool B fixtures. Deepika acknowledged Japan's strength but reiterated that the team's primary focus should be on their own performance. She emphasized the importance of converting opportunities, maintaining discipline, and playing cohesively as a unit to secure victories.
"Japan is a formidable team, but we must concentrate on our game. We need to keep scoring, stay disciplined, and work together in both attack and defense. If we adhere to our style of play, we can definitely win," she concluded.
Previously, India kicked off their campaign with a 19-0 victory over Uzbekistan, where Deepika scored eight goals, and Ishika netted a hat-trick. They followed this with a 17-goal performance against Indonesia before their impressive 20-goal match against Thailand.