'Very Difficult Time': India Hockey Star Cried, Wondering Why She Was Out of The Team
'Very Difficult Time': India Hockey Star Cried, Wondering Why She Was Out of The Team Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 15:44 IST Deepika
'Very Difficult Time': India Hockey Star Cried, Wondering Why She Was Out of The Team Published By, Last Updated: June 25, 2026, 15:44 IST Deepika Sehrawat returned from a major hamstring injury to star in India's FIH Nations Cup triumph recently. Rapid Read Deepika Sehrawat was among the Nations Cup's leading scorers. (PTI Photo) After months of frustration, tears and uncertainty during a lengthy rehabilitation process, Indian women hockey team’s drag-flicker Deepika Sehrawat marked her return to international hockey in emphatic fashion, emerging as one of the architects of the side’s FIH Nations Cup triumph in New Zealand. The 22-year-old, who missed last year’s Asia Cup after suffering a Grade III hamstring tear, made an impressive comeback by finishing as the joint-highest scorer at the Nations Cup with six goals, alongside American Ashley Sessa. For Deepika, however, the biggest victory was simply being back on the field. “Nations Cup was my first tournament after rehab and regaining full fitness. It had been a long time since I had played at this level, so I was a little nervous in the beginning. But it turned out to be a good tournament, and this performance has given me a lot of confidence after returning from injury," Deepika told news agency PTI Bhasha. The forward said the injury layoff was among the most difficult periods of her career, testing her mental strength as much as her physical resilience.
“The time away from hockey was very difficult. I would get angry and cry, wondering why I was out of the team. While the team was touring Argentina and Australia, I was still in rehab. It was only at the Nations Cup that I truly felt I had returned," said Deepika, Hockey India‘s best emerging player for 2025. At one stage, the severity of the injury left her unsure about when she would be able to return to competitive hockey. She credited the coaching staff for their contribution during her rehab. “Last year, the injury was so serious that I wasn’t sure when I would return. The credit for my comeback goes to coach Sjoerd (Marijne), Wayne, trainer Ciara and Rodet, who worked tirelessly on my rehabilitation," she said. “Their support gave me confidence throughout the recovery process. Coach Sjoerd has built this team in a short period. It wasn’t easy, but he has worked very hard and the players have fully backed him. The coaching staff deserves a lot of credit," she added. Deepika’s form comes at a crucial time for India, with the World Cup and Asian Games looming on the horizon. The Nations Cup has helped restore India’s confidence, helping them secure promotion back to the FIH Pro League after relegation last season. “It was very important for us to win this tournament because playing in the Pro League gives us the opportunity to compete regularly against the top teams.
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