The profile of Indian women’s hockey team has received a new star as Deepika Soreng, the forward of the national team has been bestowed with Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for the Upcoming Player of the Year. This award received from Hockey India 6th Annual Awards 2023 shows the kind of rising star she has become in the sport and the future that Indian hockey has.

Soreng’s rise to this award is an example of hard work and talent that has paid off in the end. Born and raised in Jharkhand, a state often referred to as the ‘Hockey Paradise’ of India, she has risen through the ranks and has joined the senior women’s team where her speed, agility and goal scoring abilities have earned her praise from the coaches and hockey lovers. From the current world cup and the Euro cup, she has been a revelation scoring goals and making great passes to her teammates.

The Asunta Lakra Award which is named after the former Indian women’s hockey captain is so much more than just a personal accolade. This means a lot to Hockey India as it shows its willingness to develop young talents and have a rich pool of players in the future. By identifying and rewarding such talents as Soreng the organization not only encourages the player, but also encourages so many young girls across the country to practice the game.

Soreng’s rise to the position of the coach comes at a perfect time for women’s hockey in India. After the team’s record fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, there has been a growing emphasis on identifying talents that are capable of challenging for a place in the senior team. Soreng’s physical attributes and attitude are ideal for the new generation, high tempo type of hockey that has evolved and become the identity of Indian team.

Coaches and teammates have testified that Soreng is hardworking and always rises to the occasion. She is a good striker of the ball and has been able to penetrate through the congested attacking zones effectively to become a lethal weapon in the Indian team’s attack line. Furthermore, she can be adapted to play in any position within the forward line making her an asset in terms of tactics to the team.

It is however important to note that Soreng’s success goes beyond the hockey pitch. In a country that women sports are struggling to gain the recognition and support that they deserve, her success story is a perfect example of what can be achieved with talent, determination and opportunity. Girls in small towns and villages of India now have a new icon to emulate, someone who has fought the system to reign supreme in foreign competitions.

In the upcoming future, Soreng is expected to concentrate more on the future big events such as the Asian Games and the FIH Women’s World Cup. These events will create an opportunity for her to perform and add onto India’s hunt for medals. The coaching staff has high expectations for the player as many of them think she can be the game changer for the Indian team against superior ranked teams.

The discovery of Soreng’s ability also demonstrates the success of the ground level hockey programmes of India. The systematic search and development of young talent, which is being sourced from all over the country, has started yielding positive results as players like Soreng have come up as world standard athletes. This success story was an eye opener and has a message for all of us to continue investing on sports infrastructure and development programs throughout the nation.

As Deepika Soreng and her talent grows day by day the entire hockey community awaits her future developments. In her case, she was an example of a promising junior who rose to become one of the best performers in the senior team that inspired other players across the country. Looking at the Paris Olympics which are still two years away, Soreng’s development could be vital to India’s hunt for the Olympic medal.

The Asunta Lakra Award is not a prize for past performances but faith in Soreng’s potential and a promise of a great future. It makes her stand in the ranks of the players, who have left the ground to become legends of Indian hockey. As she takes the stage, the future of a country depends on her and if the past journey of Deepika Soreng is any indication, then she is ready to take up the mantle.