Indian women's hockey drag-flicker Deepika Sehrawat is looking forward to a season of renewal and hope, aiming to steer the national team out of a challenging phase marked by injuries and disappointing results. The 22-year-old forward, set to make her competitive return after a five-month injury hiatus, believes the upcoming challenges present a perfect opportunity for redemption.
A Season of Setbacks and a Determined Comeback
The past year proved exceptionally difficult for the Indian women's hockey team. The side finished at the bottom of the FIH Pro League, resulting in relegation to the second-tier Nations Cup. The team also missed out on direct qualification for the FIH World Cup after falling to China in the Asia Cup final. The turmoil was compounded closer to the year's end when head coach Harendra Singh resigned following allegations about his coaching methods.
For Deepika, the 2025 Hockey India Best Emerging Player award winner, the struggle was personal. She was ruled out of the crucial Asia Cup in August after slipping during a practice session just before the team's departure. "The five months away from hockey were very difficult," she confessed. "I used to get angry and cry, wondering why I was out of the team. My preparation was very good. Now that I am fit, I don't want to leave any stone unturned."
The Road to Redemption: World Cup Qualifiers and Asian Games
The immediate focus for the team is clear: secure a World Cup berth. India must now compete in the World Cup qualifiers scheduled for March in Hyderabad. They will face stiff competition from England, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales, and Austria, with only the top three teams earning a ticket to the tournament hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands in August.
"Many things will change in the new year. The World Cup qualification will be our first challenge, and then there are the Asian Games," Deepika stated. She emphasized the need to reclaim the momentum the team had built with their historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. "We have to show that the Indian team is second to none," she asserted.
Learning from Mistakes and the Mental Game
Reflecting on the previous season's disappointments, Deepika, who made her senior debut in 2022, pointed to recurring errors and communication gaps. "We should have focused more on correcting recurring mistakes. The same errors that led to our exit from the Pro League were repeated in the Asia Cup. Better communication within the team was also needed," she analyzed.
She also highlighted the critical role of mental fitness in a player's comeback and performance. Crediting her Women's Hockey India League (WHIL) franchise, Delhi SG Pipers, for their support, she detailed her recovery process. "If a player is mentally relaxed, physical fitness comes naturally. When we are happy, our performance improves," she said. After the national camp, the franchise arranged a special 15-day camp for her in Jaipur, where she trained alone, focusing on gym work and sessions at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
Deepika has now resumed drag-flicking and feels physically stronger. As she prepares for the WHIL, she is optimistic about the team's new coordination and the learning from foreign players. Coming from a family of wrestlers in Rohtak, Deepika's choice of hockey over the family tradition is a decision she is now more determined than ever to justify on the world stage.
