Deep Grace Ekka

Last updated

Deep Grace Ekka
Deep Grace Ekka.jpg
Personal information
Born (1994-06-03) 3 June 1994 (age 31)
Lulkidhi, Sundergarh, Odisha, India
Height 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Weight 63 kg (139 lb)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current club Railways
Senior career
YearsTeam
Hockey Odisha
Railways
2025– Odisha Warriors
National team
YearsTeamCapsGoals
2011–2023 India 268 (24)
Medal record

Deep Grace Ekka (born 3 June 1994) is an Indian former field hockey player, [1] who represented the India national field hockey team. She has been selected for Arjuna Award in 2022. [2]

Contents

Early life

Deep Grace Ekka was born on 3 June 1994 in a small village called Lulkidhi in the Sundergarh district of Odisha. She is the daughter of Charles and Jayamani Ekka. [3]

She started playing hockey in school and was coached by Tej Kumar Xess (2005–06). During a round of hockey selections at her school, she was selected to join the SAI-SAG centre of the Sports Authority of India in September 2007 and started playing at state level at the age of 13. She began to be coached by Lucela Ekka and Saroj Mohanty. [3] At the age of 16, she played at the senior nationals in Sonepat. [4]

In 2011, she played at the National Games in Ranchi. She was also selected for the Junior National Camp and travelled to Bangkok for the Junior Asia Cup. [4]

She started as a defender, but her desire was to become a goalkeeper as her brother and she used to play sometimes but her uncle, who was her coach, did not allow her to pursue or practise as a goalkeeper, so having no choice she became a defender. [4]

Career

International

National

Award

Other information

References

  1. "Four Odisha players part of Olympic-bound women's hockey squad". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Odisha's Deep Grace Ekka selected for Arjuna Award". 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 "PERSONALITIES". Orisports.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 Ekka, Deep Grace (20 July 2018). "I secretly nursed the desire to be a goalkeeper | By Deep Grace Ekka". Thebridge.in. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  5. "Senior Women Core Probables". Hockeyindia.org. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  6. "Indian Women Finish 3rd In Argentina 4-Nation Tournaments". Bharatiyahockey.org. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  7. "Poonam to captain girls hockey team in U-18 Asia Cup". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  8. "Ritu Rani to Lead Indian Women's Team at World Hockey League Round 2 in Delhi". Thefansofhockey.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  9. "Indian Junior Women Team Announced For FIH Hockey Junior World Cup Women 2013". Hockeyindia.org. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  10. "8th Women's Hockey Asia Cup". Hockeyindia.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  11. "3rd Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2013". Hockeyindia.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  12. "Indian Women's Hockey Team Blank Malaysia 6–0 In 6-Test Series". Bharatiyahockey.org. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  13. "CWG 2014: Full List Of India's 215 Athletes For Glasgow". Oneindia.com. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  14. "Indian Players at Incheon Asian games 2014". Sports.mapsofindia.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  15. "Indian Women Hockey Team Announced For The Upcoming FIH World League Round 2". Hockeyindia.org. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  16. "India Beats Poland 3–1 To Win The Hero FIH Hockey World League Round 2 (Women), Delhi 2015". Hockeyindia.org. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  17. "PERSONALITIES". Orisports.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  18. "Deep Grace Ekka Completes 100 International Caps For India". Hockeyindia.org. 3 June 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  19. "Rio Olympics 2016: Four Odisha players part of women's hockey squad". Sportskeeda.com. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  20. 1 2 "PERSONALITIES". Orisports.com. Retrieved 29 July 2016.