Deepika Sehrawat Shines with Record Goals at Asian Games 2026
Deepika's Stellar Performance at the Asian Games
Aichi-Nagoya, Japan - On September 24, Indian women's hockey star Deepika Sehrawat attributed her remarkable goal-scoring streak at the Asian Games 2026 to her consistent drag-flicking technique and dedicated preparation. She emphasized that the team's focus is on maintaining their gameplay style as they approach more challenging matches.
So far, Deepika has netted an impressive 20 goals in just three matches for the Indian women's hockey squad. Notably, she scored a record-breaking nine goals against Thailand, making her the first Indian woman to achieve such a feat in a single Asian Games match.
The Indian women's hockey team continued their scoring dominance at the Asian Games, overwhelming Thailand with a 20-1 victory in their Pool B encounter at Kawasaki Juko Stadium. Alongside Deepika's nine goals, Navneet Kaur contributed four, while Rutuja Dadaso Pisal added three. Other players, including Lalremsiami, Neha, Sakshi, and Salima Tete, also scored, marking their third consecutive win in the tournament.
Thailand managed to score only once, with Samanso Supansa finding the net in the 57th minute.
In a video shared by Hockey India on X, Deepika expressed her satisfaction with her drag-flicking skills, crediting the coaching staff for their strategic guidance before each match. She stated, "My drag-flicking is going smoothly, and I feel relaxed. The coach helps us decide where to aim and how to outmaneuver the first rushers, which simplifies things. We have tough matches ahead, and all our preparation is directed towards those games."
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 India'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 defend as a cohesive team. If we adhere to our style of play, we will certainly win," she concluded.
Previously, India kicked off their campaign with a staggering 19-0 win over Uzbekistan, where Deepika scored eight goals and Ishika netted a hat-trick. They followed this with a 17-goal display against Indonesia before their latest triumph over Thailand.