Turning down marriage proposals in 2016 to continue her hockey career, newly-wed India defender Deepika Thakur is back in Indian team after 10-month absence due to knee surgery
India women's hockey team defender Deepika Thakur swears by the popular adage in Hindi: "Jo hota hai achhe ke liye hota hai (Whatever happens, happens for the good)."
She has good reason to.
The 31-year-old girl from Karnal, Haryana, on Friday made a comeback into the national team after a gap of 10 months, with a painful knee surgery and a joyous wedding keeping the experienced defender out of action since April last year.
But there was a time before the 2016 Olympics that might have prevented her from experiencing the contrasting feelings altogether.
Keen to see her 'settle down' soon, Deepika's mother — her father passed away in 2013 — started the search for a suitable life partner for her beloved daughter months before the 2016 Rio Games.
She met a few interested families, all of which had a common underlying "problem": Deepika's hockey career, one that started way back in 2003.
The girl was at crossroads. She had to choose between continuing living her passion or handing it a premature death by agreeing to the families' demands of giving up hockey, which could've also meant missing out on the Olympics.
Her mind was made up quickly, though.
"My family was trying to fix my marriage before the (2016) Olympics, and they were searching for guys. That time, an alliance with a guy didn't work out, and even before that, I had rejected two men.
"Someone had a problem with my sport, someone had a problem with my job, someone had a problem with the clothes I wear. Some people said the girl will have to wear only sarees after marriage. I thought, 'why are people not accepting me the way I am'?" says Deepika, who is employed with the Indian Railways.
Deepika certainly wasn't accepting anything that halted her blossoming hockey journey.
She decided to put her wedding plans on the back burner, and saw her Olympic dream come to life as the team's vice-captain in Rio.
Last year, Deepika was forced to undergo a surgery for the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury after playing the Women's Hockey World League Round 2 in April.
However, the prolonged time away from the game helped her complete an unfinished business.
That same month, Deepika finally found a man, and a family, that loved and respected her as a woman as well as a hockey player.
And, in November last year, Deepika tied the knot with Vikram Dahiya, a hotel manager based in Karnal.
"Surgery and wedding, two big events hit me simultaneously," Deepika says with a chuckle.
"When our families met, I wasn't sure whether my in-laws will allow me to continue my hockey career. But they told me before fixing the marriage itself that I could carry on playing.
"Even then, I thought that in such things, you never know when their mind changes. But my husband is really supportive of me, and he backs me and my love for the game fully," she adds.
No wonder, the first call Deepika made on hearing about her selection after 10 months for the Korea tour, was to her father-in-law.
"This family accepts me the way I am. Even when I'm training and they see me all sweaty and drained out, they say I'm looking good," she laughs, before adding, "So with them, I've never felt that I should restrain myself, or think of quitting the game. Their support has been massive after the marriage."
That support ensured that she could overcome the dreaded ACL injury in the hope of picking up a hockey stick and playing for India again.
"My heart was shattered when I underwent my knee operation. I cried for days. I often thought — and even a lot of people told me — that to make a comeback after such a long gap is really tough. And many had given up hopes of that.
"But my husband kept pushing me, saying, 'you'll come back one day'. I got a lot of support from my family, and that's why I'm here again," Deepika says.
Deepika is writing a new chapter in her hockey career while erasing the memories of a phase that could've ended it.
"Now that I look back, I feel happy.
"Jo hota hai achhe ke liye hota hai," she says.
RANI TO LEAD 20-MEMBER TEAM FOR TOUR TO KOREA
Ace striker Rani Rampal was named captain of a 20-member Indian women’s hockey team for next month’s season-opening away series against Korea. India will play five matches against the hosts from March 3 to 12. The squad: Goalkeepers: Rajani Etimarpu, Swati; Defenders: Deepika Thakur, Sunita Lakra (V-C), Deep Grace Ekka, Suman Devi Thoudam, Gurjit Kaur, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam; Midfielders: Monika, Namita Toppo, Nikki Pradhan, Neha Goyal, Lilima Minz, Udita; Forwards: Rani (C), Vandana Katariya, Lalremsiami, Navjot Kaur, Navneet Kaur, Poonam Rani
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