Deep Grace Ekka

Deep Grace Ekka

Personal information
Full name	Deep Grace Ekka
Nationality	India
Born	June 3, 1994 Odisha, India
Sport
Country	India
Sport	Hockey
Position	Defender
Club	SAI-SAG Centre, Sundargarh, Odisha, Railway[1]

Deep Grace Ekka (born June 3, 1994) is an Indian woman hockey player from Odisha in defender position.^[2] She belongs to Lulkidihi village, Balisankra Block, Sundargarh District of Odisha. She is daughter of Charles Ekka (father) and Jayamani Ekka (mother).^[3] She was initially coached by Tej Kumar Xess (2005–06) but after joining the SAI-SAG centre in 2007 she is training under Lucela Ekka^[4] and Saroj Mohanty.

Achievements

She has 106 international caps and scored 3 international goals.^[5]

International

• Made her internatioanl debut in the Four-Nation Tournament in Argentina in 2011 in which India won Bronze medal.^[6]
• Helped India win the bronze medal in the U-18 Girls` Asia Cup Hockey Championship at Bangkok, Thailand in 2011.<sup>[7]</sup>
• Represented Indian senior women`s team in the FIH World League (Round 2) held at New Delhi from February 18 to 24, 2013.^[8]
• She was a part of the Indian team that made history by winning the bronze medal for the first time in Women`s Junior Hockey

World Cup at Monchengladbach in Garmany on July 4, 2013.^[9]

• She was part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal in the Women's Hockey Asia Cup in 2013.^[10]
• She was part of the senior Indian team that won the silver medal in the Women's Asian Champions Trophy in 2013.^[11]
• She was a member of the Indian team that won the women's hockey test series 6-0 against Malaysia held at Kualalumpur

from June 9 to 17, 2014.^[12]

• She was part of the Indian women team that finished fifth in the 20th Commonwealth Games, held in Glasgow from July 23 to

August 3, 2014.^[13]

• She was a member of the Indian women hockey team that won the bronze medal in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon (South

Korea) on October 1, 2014.^[14]

• She was a member of the Indian women team that finished seventh in the Hawkes Bay Cup Tournament, held at Hastings in

New Zealand from April 11 to 19, 2015.

• She was part of the Indian team that won the FIH World League Round 2 in New Delhi in 2015.^[15][16]
• She was a member of Indian women hockey team that won five matches, drew one and lost two on its South Africa tour, which

took place from Feb 20 to March 1, 2016.

• She was a member of the India team that finished sixth in the Hawkes Bay Cup Women Hockey Festival, held at Hasting in

New Zealand from April 2 to 10, 2016.^[17]

• Completed her 100th international cap in India's final group stage match against Australia on her 22nd birthday at the FourNation Women Tournament at Darwin in Australia on June 3, 2016.^[18]
• She was selected for Rio Olympics 2016, Brazil.^[19]

National

• Helped Odisha win the title in National School (U-17) Hockey Championship in 2009.
• Helped Odisha finish runners-up in the Hockey event of the Women's National Sports Festival at Bhopal in 2010.
• She was a member of the Odisha team that finished 3rd in the inaugural Hockey India Senior National Championship at Sonepat in 2011.
• Represented Odisha in 34th National games at Ranchi (Jharkhand) in 2011.
• Selected by Hockey India to join the Senior National Women coaching camp to be held at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadiumin New Delhi from December 27 to February 15, 2011.^[20]

Other information

• On July 26, 2016, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik directed Odisha Mining Corporation to provide her a special incentive of Rs 10 lakh for participation in Rio Olympic Games.
• Odisha government on October 10, 2014 announced a cash award of Rs 75,000 lakh for Deep Grace for helping India win

women`s bronze medal in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon.

• Odisha Cricket Association on Oct 2, 2014 announced a cash award of Rs 10,000 for Deep Grace for helping India win the

bronze medal in the 17th Asian Games at Incheon.

• On August 11, 2014, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited felicitated with a cash award of Rs 1 lalkh for helping India win bronze

medal in the 2013 Junior Women HockeyWorld Cup in Germany.^[21]

References

1. "Senior Women Core Probables". hockeyindia.org. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
2. "Four Odisha players part of Olympic-bound women's hockey squad". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
3. "PERSONALITIES". Orisports.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
4. "Hockey cradle celebrates Rio entry". newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
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. 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. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
10. "8th Women's Hockey Asia Cup". hockeyindia.org. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
11. "3rd Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2013". hockeyindia.org. 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. 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. 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. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
17. "PERSONALITIES". Orisports.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
18. "Deep Grace Ekka Completes 100 International Caps For India". hockeyindia.org. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
19. "Rio Olympics 2016: Four Odisha players part of women's hockey squad". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
20. "PERSONALITIES". Orisports.com. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
21. "PERSONALITIES". Orisports.com. Retrieved 29 July 2016.