#3 Deepika Thakur
Amongst the oldest and most capped member of the Indian women’s hockey team, Deepika started off the year on a high note in March when she won the Dhruv Batra Player of the Year award, recognising her as one of the most successful and inspiring hockey players.
At the Asian Champions Trophy in Malaysia the India women won it for the first time and Thakur had an important role in the team’s success, and was also the highest scorer of the tournament. In the final clash against China, she scored in the dying moments to help India win the title 2-1.
Then in the away series against Australia, Deepika was adjudged the Player of the Tournament for her stellar performance in the series. Such is her dedication towards the sport of hockey that she put her marriage plans on hold as the women’s team qualified for the Rio Olympics, speaking volumes of her character.
