Deepika Sehrawat Creates History, Becomes First Ever Indian To...

Last Updated:July 16, 2025, 13:58 IST

Deepika made history as the first Indian to win the Poligras Magic Skill Award for her solo goal against the Netherlands in the 2024-25 FIH Hockey Pro League.

Deepika Sehrawat in action. (Hockey India)

Indian women’s hockey forward Deepika has made history as the first-ever Indian player to win the esteemed Poligras Magic Skill Award. Fans worldwide voted for her remarkable solo field goal against the Netherlands during the Bhubaneswar leg of the 2024-25 FIH Hockey Pro League season.

The 21-year-old forward gained international acclaim for her stunning run and finish in the 35th minute of India’s match against the world’s top-ranked team, the Netherlands. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, but India triumphed in the shootout.

Trailing 0-2, Deepika weaved through the Dutch defence on the left flank, skilfully dribbled along the baseline, lifted the ball over a defender’s stick, and executed a perfect finish past the goalkeeper to score India’s first goal.

Upon receiving the award, an ecstatic Deepika expressed, “I am truly honoured to have won this award. Scoring that goal against a challenging opponent like The Netherlands was truly a special moment for me and now receiving this recognition means a lot.

“I thank my teammates, coaches, family and friends who continue to support and inspire me every day. This award isn’t just mine, it belongs to Indian hockey. Let’s keep pushing forward together," she added.

The Poligras Magic Skill Award recognises the most creative and skilful moments in the FIH Hockey Pro League, with voting conducted by fans globally. Deepika’s goal was one of three women’s nominations, alongside Spain’s Patricia Alvarez and the Australian women’s team.

Fans worldwide cast their votes, and Deepika emerged as the favourite, marking a significant achievement for Indian hockey.

The men’s award was clinched by Belgium’s Victor Wegnez for his exceptional midfield play, leading to a team goal against Spain.

Who is Deepika?

Deepika made her junior debut for India in 2018 at the Youth Olympic Qualifiers in March. She later participated in the 2021 Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa, and was part of the gold-winning Indian team at the Women’s Junior Asia Cup.

She first gained attention with a stellar performance at the 2018 Sub-Junior National Championships in her hometown Hisar, where she scored 16 goals for Haryana. Haryana went on to win the Sub-Junior Nationals, and Deepika was named the ‘Best Player’ of the tournament.

She was subsequently called up for the National camp and selected for the Indian team for the Youth Olympic qualifier. Deepika made her senior debut for India in the FIH Pro League 2021-2022 held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In 2020, she was part of the Junior India women’s tour of Chile, playing a key role in the team’s undefeated run.

With IANS Inputs

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